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The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota is adding sensory-friendly days to its schedule this year for guests with autism and other sensory needs.

On each Autism Friendly Entry Day, Como Zoo will open an hour early to allow guests with autism and other sensory needs to explore the exhibits and participate in activities designed specifically for them. The purpose of the program is to reduce the anxiety of visitors who may normally be overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds at the zoo.

The zoo also collaborated with the Autism Society of Minnesota to create a “Social Narrative” guide that explains to visitors “what to expect step-by-step as they explore the zoo and conservatory,” according to a news release. A visual schedule and sensory map are also available.

There are 18 Autism Friendly Entry Days on the schedule for 2018.

2018 Dates

Sun. Feb. 11

Sun March 11

Sun. April 8

Sun. May 13

Sun. June 10

Wed. June 13

Sun. July 8

Wed. July 11

Sun. July 22

Wed. July 25

Sun. Aug 5

Wed. Aug 8

Sun. Aug 19

Wed. Aug 22

Sun. Sept. 9

Sun. Oct. 14

Sun. Nov. 11

Sun. Dec. 9