ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Join us Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!
Our guest is Jennifer McLachian Vice President of Education for ZooTampa at Lowry Park as we discuss their Autism Friendly Initiatives.
Jennifer oversees the early childhood education center, summer camps, and sleepovers as well as mission driven objectives that include in-park guest engagement. ZooTampa offers Special Needs Assistance, Gluten-Free menu options, service animals are welcome, sign language interpreters are available, and the zoo is an autism friendly attraction.
Autism Friendly
The Zoo has established a partnership with the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) at USF to improve their capacity to serve children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and related disabilities. As a result, the Zoo has been designated an “autism-friendly business.”
The Zoo has visual aids at the front gate (limited availability), which can be borrowed at the guest’s request for assistance. The zoo also provides an Autism-friendly version of the Zoo map and additional sensory friendly materials like sensory friendly tips and social stories about Visiting the Zoo and Animal Encounters.
Autism Friendly Map – plan your adventure ahead of time! Click Here.
Sensory Friendly Tips Click Here.
Visiting ZooTampa at Lowry Park Click Here.
Feedings & Encounters Social Experience Stories Click Here.
ZooTampa’s Visitor Service Staff goes out of their way to ensure that all individuals with disabilities have an opportunity to experience all that is available at ZooTampa. Early childhood education center, summer camps and sleepovers includes those with disabilities.
This is in keeping with ZooTampa’s Mission: “ ...to create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in fun, immersive ways.”
