BLOOMINGTON (25News Now) – The zoo can be a fun summer activity, but for families with kids who have special sensory needs, the environment can pose some challenges. Staff at Miller Park Zoo hope to change that.

The Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington is considered “sensory inclusive.” Staff members offer a map to indicate areas that can be loud or smelly, but their new sensory tours take inclusivity to the next level.

For the first time, zoo staff are offering private tours of the animal enclosures to people of all ages with a disability. However, the hour-long tour takes place outside operating hours to remove any distress.

“By having a tour where there’s a smaller number of people, it gives individuals more access, and they can be more comfortable in the environment,” said zoo educator Jeff Bakken.

The tour features educational lessons related to two animals but also provides an opportunity for hands-on encounters with a mammal and reptile.

Amber Casey and her two children were the first family to take advantage of the program on Thursday.

Casey’s four-year-old daughter, Maci, was diagnosed with autism when she was two. Maci is nonverbal and has difficulty focusing on animals when there’s too much going on.

The young girl also becomes overstimulated and upset with loud noises and too many people. Casey said her daughter’s reaction to that is to run around.

The new sensory tour at the Bloomington Zoo was the perfect setting for Maci.

“I’m so glad that Bloomington specifically has different activities that are sensory guided for kids with autism because they don’t really get to enjoy things when there’s a bunch of people; it’s too overstimulating for them, so I’m just so glad they offer this,” said Casey.

During the tour, Maci and her younger brother saw a bald eagle and monkey and also touched a bunny rabbit and a blue-tongued skink.

Bakken said it’s rewarding to help others experience and become involved in the zoo culture who otherwise might not have comfortable access to the opportunity.

“The emotion that they have, and the joy that they have is really special,” Bakken said.

Miller Park Zoo staff host the sensory tours on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Families interested should email Silvia Schuh at sschuh@cityblm.org to register.

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