Visits to museums can be overwhelming or stressful for people with sensory sensitivities: new surroundings, varied lighting and sounds, bright colors, bright and flashing lights, and so on. This cultural experience can therefore lead to sensory overload, making it more difficult for affected visitors to concentrate, participate and discover exhibitions.
The Ottawa Museum Network (OMN) has therefore designed a sensory bag program to reduce those barriers. The Vanier Museopark Museum is now equipped with bags filled with tools to help children calm or stimulate their sensory systems according to their individual needs. These tools help with self-regulation, tactile input, concentration and body awareness.
Don’t hesitate to ask for yours next time you visit!
