The Johnson County Museum has renewed the award-winning Sensory Friendly Mondays program, an opportunity designed to make the museum accessible to more people in the community. Since its inception, more than 300 participants have enjoyed visiting the museum’s exhibits, including KidScape - a 3,500 square foot interactive history exhibit designed for children ages two to nine - in a comfortable, low-sensory way. 

In 2022, Sensory Friendly Mondays was honored with the Removing Barriers Initiative award from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials and the Outstanding New or Innovative Recreation Program Award from the Kansas Recreation and Park Association.

The once-monthly program was developed with support from Britain Development, a program of AdventHealth Shawnee Mission. “Our partnership with Britain Development has been key to growing our audience for Sensory Friendly Mondays,” said Johnson County Museum Curator of Education Leah Palmer . “My favorite part of this program has been seeing families return month after month, each time exploring more of the museum. Being able to leverage the expertise of the Britain staff on-site helps families develop confidence as museum-goers.”

This continuing commitment with Britain Development includes enhancements to the existing program designed to make the galleries and spaces more accessible, provide documents to help families plan their visit, and sensory bags for use during the program so that young visitors have everything they need to enjoy their time at the Johnson County Museum.  In addition, Britain Development program participants will receive free visit passes to the museum.

“As part of our mission to help children of all abilities and their families prepare for the future, we want to ensure that children with sensory challenges have access to all that the Johnson County community has to offer,” said B.E. Smith Family Center Director Amy Milroy. “Sensory Friendly Mondays have shown that with the right environment and tools, children of all abilities can learn, play, and thrive together.”

“The Johnson County Museum values community partnerships and remains committed to being a welcoming place for all individuals,” said Museum Director Mary McMurray. “We are grateful to Britain Development and the AdventHealth Foundation Shawnee Mission for their continued commitment and partnership that will help us serve more of our community in more meaningful ways.” Sensory Friendly Mondays feature limited-occupancy sessions designed specifically for children with sensory processing differences and Autism Spectrum Disorders, and their families. The programs take place on the first Monday of every month from 9 am to 12 pm. Learn more and register at https://jcprd.com/1686/Sensory-Friendly-Mondays.