Families with special needs don’t need to miss out on local family fun! We’ve rounded up this month’s events for families and children with special needs. Unless otherwise stated, all events require preregistration. See the event listings for more information and to register.
October Lake County Special Needs Calendar
Weekly Events for Special Needs Families:
Events are linked to the first event of the month, see the full calendar for additional dates.
Destination Discovery
Every other Wednesday, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Gigi’s Playhouse at Bannockburn Green, 2511 Waukegan Rd., Bannockburn
Supports the development of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social skills and language through purposeful play and peer to peer interaction in a casual and fun setting. All ages welcome.
LMNOP
Every Friday, 10-11:00 a.m.
Gigi’s Playhouse at Bannockburn Green, 2511 Waukegan Rd., Bannockburn
Language, Music N’ Our Peeps (LMNOP) guides parents and infants through learning basic sign language and through incorporating music and dance therapy into daily activities, to stimulate the child. Recommended for children newborn-36 months old.
Special Events for Special Needs Families
Special Needs Family Night
1 October, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Rockin’ Jump – Buffalo Grove, 950 Busch Pkwy, Buffalo Grove
$10 for the first child, $5 each additional, 1 parent jumps free.
A sensory-friendly environment for special guests.
Sensory Hour
4 October, 10-11:00 a.m.
Raupp Museum, 901 Dunham Lane, Buffalo Grove
Special activities suited to children with sensory processing issues, autism spectrum disorders, or who are differentlyabled. History is for everyone; and, our staff will be on hand to help children engage with the exhibits in a supportive environment.
Sensory Storytime
4 October, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Deerfield Public Library, 920 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield
An inclusive and interactive storytime filled with stories, songs, sensory play, and socialization
Sensory Sensitive Sundays
6 October 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Chuck E. Cheese, 700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills
Enjoy games and food with reduced lighting and noise. Staff will be trained and caring about autism and other special needs.
Parent Workshop – Retirement and Lifestyle Planning
7 October, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Gigi’s Playhouse at Bannockburn Green, 2511 Waukegan Rd., Bannockburn
To be discussed: how to balance your 401k’s, IRA’s, Long Term Care insurance, longevity and other retirement concerns as they relate to families with special needs. Gigi’s parent workshops are created to be a safe environment for families to openly discuss some of the unique needs and goals related to having a family member with special needs. They are interactive and informative!
Playhouse Pals & Kids Club
8 & 22 October 2019, 6-7:00 p.m.
Gigi’s Playhouse at Bannockburn Green, 2511 Waukegan Rd., Bannockburn
Playhouse Pals and Kids Club are two programs that support the development of social skills and language through peer to peer interaction in a casual and fun setting. These programs also support gross motor skills through active games, fine motor and self-help skills, and community field trips. Programs are for ages 5-8 and 8-12 years old.
AMC Sensory Friendly Films
12 & 26 October, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
AMC Theatres in Lake in the Hills and South Barrington
AMC is proud to partner with the Autism Society to offer unique movie showings where the theaters turn the lights up and turn the sound down, so you can get up and dance, walk, shout or sing!
Child Development Screening
12 October, 10-11:30 a.m.
Zion-Benton Public Library, 2400 Gabriel Ave., Zion
Screen your child to see if they are on the right track in 5 key areas (communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving & personal-social). Afterward, receive information on activities you can do with your child to enhance their growth and support their development. The questionnaires screen children from birth through five years old. Screened children can take home a free prize book. Drop-ins accepted but registration preferred. Appointments take ~20 minutes. Cuestionario en Espaňol también.
Sensory Story Time *registration required*
15 October, 6-6:30 p.m.
Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway, Barrington
Children enjoy books, music, and movement activities designed to engage the senses and build language and literacy skills. For children of all abilities.
Quiet Hour – Cook Library’s Touch the Trucks
19 October, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Cook Park, 413 North Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
There will be no sirens, horns, bells, whistles, or buzzers from the trucks. Those who are scared or bothered by loud noises can enjoy this annual event in peace.
Sensory Storytime *registration required*
19 October, 1-2:00 p.m.
Warren Newport Public Library, 224 N. O’Plaine Rd., Gurnee
Sensory Storytime for families with children 3-9 who are on the spectrum or have multi-sensory needs. The program provides a welcoming environment for children to enjoy a story and other fun activities. Siblings welcome.
Everyone at Play
20 October, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview
This special morning event offers free admission for families with children with special needs to explore the Museum exhibits in a controlled, quieter environment. *Registration required*
Sensory-Friendly Performance of Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat
27 October, 2-3:00 p.m.
Northbrook Theatre, Walters Ave., Northbrook
Tickets are $14 each.
Watch everyone’s favorite cat come to life in this theatrical adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss book of the same name. Sensory-Friendly performances offer general admission seating and are intended to make theatre spaces more inclusive and accessible to audience members and their families with varying sensory sensitivities and prefer to experience performances without the conventions of a traditional theatre setting. Sensory-Friendly performances are welcome to all audiences; however certain adjustments will be made to the production to remain inclusive to sensory sensitivities.
Do you know of a program or event we missed? Share it in the comments so we can add it!
Leave a Reply