In honor of National Autism Awareness Month, April 2021, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium would like to share two exciting updates:
- Mote was recently designated an Autism Friendly Business by the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at University of South Florida!
This means key staff members at Mote have participated in training that helps us provide those with autism a welcoming, compassionate and nonjudgmental environment. It also means that Mote provides resources to support guests with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or sensory differences before and during their visits.Specifically, Mote has a limited number of sensory-friendly backpacks available to be borrowed (with ID exchange) at the front desk of our Aquarium. Guests can also prepare for their visit and learn about what’s in the backpacks by downloading our Sensory Guide.
- Our next Sensory Saturday starts at 8:30 a.m. June 12 at Mote Aquarium!
During our quarterly Sensory Saturdays, Mote Aquarium opens its doors an hour early, exclusively for individuals who have sensory processing differences, ASD, or other conditions that would benefit from a calmer sensory experience. Visitors can enjoy our exhibits under soft lighting, without heavy crowds, and with decreased noise levels and visual stimulation wherever possible.