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WLWT NEWS 5’S MEGAN MITCHELL HAS MORE ON THE ACCESS FOR ALL INITIATIVE. MEGAN: MOM OF FOUR NICOLE WHITE LOVES ANIMALS AND SO DO HER KIDS BUT IT IS HER YOUNGEST, 4-YEAR-OLD KATE WHO BROUGHT THEM THROUGH THE GATES AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO. ? -- >> KATE LOVES MUSIC SO WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL ABOUT THIS EVENT I THOUGHT IT’D BE GREAT TO BRING HER TO THIS EVENT AND WE ALSO COME TO THE ZOO QUITE A BIT WITH HER. MEGAN: THE ZOO HELD A SPECIAL CINCINNATI OPERA PERFORMANCE THIS MORNING. MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. TODAY’S PERFORMANCE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE SENSORY NEEDS OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS FOLLOW ALONG EASIER >> HAVING THAT OPEN ACCESS, SENSORY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. I MEAN AS PARENTS WE KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THAT AND IT’S JUST ARE WE ABLE TO DO THAT IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT? AND SOMETIMES WE DON’T HAVE THAT CAPACITY. MEGAN: NOT ONLY IS THE ENTIRE PERFORMANCE MODIFIED BUT RIGHT WHEN YOU WALK IN THERE’S A TABLE THAT HAS SENSORY BAGS TO TAKE THAT INCLUSIVENESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERY FAMILY FEELS SAFE AND WELCOM >> SENSORY BAGS THAT HAVE NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES, OR PINWHEELS, OR SUNGLASSES. MEGAN: HOWELLER SAYS THAT IT CAN ALSO BE HARD FOR FAMILIES DEALING WITH STAIRS -- STARES, WHILE OUT IN PUBLIC. ZOO EMPLOYEES ARE TRAINED FOR THESE SITUATIONS AND HELP CREATE A WARM, WELCOMING SPACE. >> NOT ONLY IS THIS A LEARNING MOMENT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS AND KIDDOS WITH DISABILITIES BUT THIS IS A LEARNING MOMENT FOR EVERYBPODY THAT VISITS OUR ZOO

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The Cincinnati Zoo hosted a special opera show on Wednesday for those who might not normally get to enjoy it.The Cincinnati Opera held a special dress rehearsal Wednesday morning ahead of its sold-out zoo performance.Mom of four Nicole White loves animals and so do her kids. But it’s her youngest, 4-year-old Kate White, who brought the family through the gates Wednesday morning."Kate loves music, so when I got the email about this event, I thought it'd be great to bring her to this event, and we also come to the zoo quite a bit with her,” said White.Kate, who has Down syndrome, was able to enjoy the opera performance that took into account the sensory needs of visitors and included a guide to help audience members follow along."Having that open-access, sensory-friendly environment is really important to us but sometimes we don't have that capacity," said White.Not only was the entire performance modified, but right when families came in, there was a table with sensory bags to bring that inclusiveness to the next level and make sure that every family felt safe and welcome."Sensory bags that have noise-cancelling headphones or pinwheels or sunglasses," said Rhiannon Howeller, vice president of visitor experience at the Cincinnati Zoo.Howeller said it can also be hard for families to deal with stares while out in public.Zoo officials said employees are trained for these situations and work to create a warm, welcoming space.“Not only is this a learning moment for the individuals and kiddos with disabilities, but this is a learning moment for everybody that visits our zoo,” said Howeller.The full performance of the "Opera at the Zoo" is at 7 p.m. It is sold out.