The Everyone is Special (EIS) program is an extension of Amazement Square’s educational priorities to cultivate an engaged community of lifelong learners and ensure hands-on experiential learning is accessible to all visitors. Through this program Amazement Square is able to provide unique museum exploration experiences to children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, their siblings, and parents. Additionally, this program provides STEAM based experiential learning opportunities to adaptive learning classrooms.
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Family Events
At Amazement Square, we believe that learning is for all, and recognize that each child is unique and special. Our Family Day events are designed to create an atmosphere in which children on the Autism spectrum and their families can engage in learning-through-play activities which spark imagination, creativity, and curiosity. Family Days are held in the museum, after normal operating hours, to provide an environment that is less busy and more sensory friendly.
Our next Family Day event will be taking place on Sunday, December 15th from 2:00pm-4:00pm. The event includes exploration of the museum’s 4 interactive floors and holiday themed hands-on activities including photos with Santa!
Registration for December 15th opening soon!
School Programs
To connect with students on the Autism spectrum in classrooms, the Everyone is Special school program offers a multi-series STEAM outreach program focusing on space, engineering, and coding. The program is tailored to the needs of each classroom for a customized experience. In the Spring of 2022, a pilot program was offered to three Bedford County Public Schools classrooms at Boonsboro Elementary, New London Elementary, and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools. The pilot program included invention design, problem solving, rocket design, and a planetarium presentation. The full program is now being offered to local classrooms in the greater Lynchburg community. If you are interested in this program for your school or classroom, please email our education team.
Community Advisory Committee
In pursuit of enhancing the museum experience and building up our community, Amazement Square has created a Community Advisory Committee for the Everyone is Special program. In partnership with Centra and Puzzled (a non-profit dedicated to helping individuals who have an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis and their families), the Community Advisory Committee is made up of professionals working in medical, educational, and therapeutic fields, as well as parents of children on the Autism spectrum. With their insight and guidance, Amazement Square is able to receive valuable input on how to best provide resources for the Autism community of Virginia. We are always welcoming interested individuals to join this committee, if you or someone you know may be interested, please email our education team.
Enhancing the Museum Experience
By collecting feedback from visitors of our Family events, and with continued input from our Community Advisory Committee, Amazement Square is on a continual pursuit to enhance the museum experience for all. While working to provide multiple resources to our guests, we are also striving to continuously provide staff development for our team. Cultivating lifelong learners doesn't stop with our guests, and we encourage our staff to always follow our motto: Be kind, be safe, and be thinking!
Community Resources
AT Home learning opportunities
Everyone is Special is made possible in part by generous grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Puzzled, Centra Health, and the Al Stroobants Foundation.