Autism Awareness Day at Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Nashville Zoo will host its sixth annual Autism Awareness Day on Sunday, April 28 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Family-oriented animal experiences and games will be held throughout the Zoo. Guests can participate in a Zoo-wide scavenger hunt or sensory tour that will be available at Festival Field and may also have close encounters with animals throughout the day. Zoo staff will also be at Festival Field sharing information on Nashville Zoo’s efforts to promote inclusion of audiences on the autism spectrum. All activities are included with zoo admission or membership. A more detailed schedule of events will be released closer to the day of the event. The Zoo, along with TRIAD, has also developed support tools for guests on the spectrum, such as visual schedules, social stories and adjusted zoo maps that are always available to download on the zoo’s website https://www.nashvillezoo.org/accessibility.
Resources
Those planning on attending the event are able to download support tools on the Zoo's website or guests can pick them up the day of the event. Resources available include:
- Going to the Nashville Zoo Illustrated (English) Social Story
- Going to the Nashville Zoo Illustrated (Spanish) Social Story
- Petting Animals at the Zoo Illustrated Social Story
- Waiting in Line at the Zoo Illustrated Social Story
- Modified Zoo Map and Visual Schedule
Description of Autism Awareness Day
Held in partnership with the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD), Autism Awareness Day is included with Zoo admission or membership and offers family-oriented animal experiences and activities throughout the Zoo. Guests can participate in a zoo-wide scavenger hunt or sensory tour and close encounters with animals along the Zoo’s trails. Guests can also get information on the Zoo’s efforts to promote inclusion of audiences on the autism spectrum.
Purchase Tickets Online
Tickets can be purchased by clicking on the Registration Required button at the top of the page.
Limited number of free tickets available!
Limit 2 per family until we run out. Please register here.
Contacts
Organization Contact: Chad Fifer (cfifer@nashvillezoo.org)
TRIAD Contact: Lauren Weaver (lauren.weaver@vanderbilt.edu)