Fall Sensory Friendly and Inclusive Events in Des Moines 2024
Fall events and activities are in full swing in Des Moines, Iowa. We have gathered events that are sensory-friendly and inclusive in hopes of helping all families plan their fall season. If you have an event to add please let us know!
October
ASK Resource Center Family & Educator Partnership (FEP) Lunch and Learn
October 2 from Noon to 1 p.m.
Registration Required
Join for a Lunch and Learn with Karen Thompson, Executive Director of the ASK Resource Center to:
- Receive information on the whole-child services and supports available at ASK Resource Center.
-Gain knowledge on the expansion of Family Support services available for children, youth, and young adults in need of or receiving special education services. - Learn how to refer families to ASK Resource Center.
Sensory Friendly Screening of Flying Lessons
October 3 at 7 p.m.
Varsity Cinema
Purchase tickets on their website.
In partnership with the Harkin Institute and the Autism Society of Iowa. Meet the director, Sarah Waldron, and enjoy a sensory-friendly screening. Quieter sound lights are slightly on and provided fidgets can all be anticipated at this screening.
Film Details:
Two estranged adopted sisters are forced together by their mother’s sudden death: Beatrice, an autistic Chinese high school senior who wants to learn to fly, and Talia, a queer black musician who never wanted custody of Beatrice in the first place. Starring the autistic actress the story is based on, the film blurs narrative and documentary styles and showcases a unique and underrepresented perspective on death and grief.
A Taste of ReelAbilities Film Festival
October 4 through 6
Des Moines Art Center
Registration Required
Cost: Free
The Des Moines Art Center and The Harkin Institute, together with support from the Principal® Foundation, are presenting “A Taste of ReelAbilities,” a film festival exclusively dedicated to showcasing films by and about people with disabilities.
Film screenings will take place at the notably inclusive and accessible Harkin Institute located at 2800 University Avenue in Des Moines. All films include open captions and audio description capabilities. Film screenings will be followed by a conversations with individuals from the disability community related to the specific content of the films.
Friday, October 4 at 6:30 pm
Film: OKAY! (The ASD Band Film), 2022
Saturday, October 5 at 1:30 pm
Film: La Lucha (The Fight), 2023
Sunday, October 6 at 1:30 pm
Film: Name Me Lawand, 2022
Fall Carnival
October 6 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Cultivating Home Farms
Enjoy free entry to this third annual Fall Carnival for families living with autism and varied abilities. Enjoy fairground rides, food stand, show arena and vendor booths. Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ + Brew will be serving food this year.
IowAbility Fair
October 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Easterseals Iowa
IowAbility Fair offers a unique experience for individuals and families affected by spinal cord injury, spina bifida, mobility impairments, and all wheelchair users. Participants can enjoy indoor and outdoor adaptive sports and recreation activities, explore product and service vendors, network and build relationships, and join the Walk-N-Roll fundraiser. The objective of this FREE event is to bring individuals with limited mobility together to learn, connect, try new things, and have fun! This great event is held at the beautiful Easterseals Iowa campus in Des Moines.
Fire Prevention Week Special Needs Open House
October 8 from 6 to 8 p.m.
City of Ankeny Fire Department
The Ankeny Fire Department is offering a special open house for individuals with autism, special needs or disabilities and their families. Activities have been modified for those with special needs.
2024 Fall Festival
October 12 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon
Easterseals Iowa and Camp Sunnyside
Gather your family & friends and join us for Family-friendly Fall activities. This event is FREE. ALL are welcome. Costumes encouraged. Enjoy:
- Superhero and Princess Meet-‘n’-Greets
- Fall Snacks
- Horseback Riding
- Face Painting
- Kids’ Crafts
- Balloon Artists
- Photo Booth
- Prize Drawings
- Bobbing for Pumpkins
Any free-will donations made on-site would be greatly appreciated and will go toward the support of our 2025 programs. Information about Easterseals Iowa programs, camps, pool and facilities rentals, volunteer opportunities and more, will also be available.
Art Spectrums
October 13
Art Spectrums Ages 5-12: 1:00-2:30 PM
Art Spectrums Ages 13-18: 3:00-4:30 PM
Des Moines Art Center. Registration Required. Cost: Free
The purpose of Art Spectrums is to enable children with autism and their families to engage with artwork and have fun at a museum. In this free program, children on the autism spectrum and their family members explore and make art together. Participants will visit and discuss a work of art in the Art Center’s collection for inspiration. Next, children and family members make their own artwork. This program will be a great opportunity for children with autism, siblings, parents, and other family members to have fun and make memories with art.
Trick-or-Treat & Autism Safety
October 18 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Fi & Friends Organization; Located at Blue Compass
Come enjoy a Sensory & Autism-Friendly Trick-or-Treat experience! Costumes are encouraged but not required, we want everyone to be comfortable and have fun! Learn about top safety risks for Autistic individuals, the importance of having a safety plan for your family, and find local resources that can help your family with safety questions or concerns.
Harvest Hoedown
October 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Valley Community Center
Our Harvest Hoedown is a FREE community event for anyone ages 14+ with special needs. Come dressed for a hoedown to enjoy a festive dinner followed by karaoke, wagon rides, and games! This event is free, but please sign up to let us know you’re coming!
Drive Thru Fall Event
October 20 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Valley Church Parking Lot
In partnership with the Autism Society of Iowa, join us on October 20 for a Drive Thru Fall Event in the Valley Church Parking Lot in West Des Moines. Designed for those with Autism and other special needs to enjoy from the safety of their vehicles. Enjoy characters, animals, decorations and free goodie bags for the first 100 attendees. Free entry to drive thru.
Great Pumpkin Party 2024
October 20 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Valley Church
Join us for a night of the Great Pumpkin Party dedicated specifically to families with special needs! The same Great Pumpkin Party, but with extra accommodations to make sure it is a night that is fun for the whole family! Enjoy smaller crowds, lighting and sound adjustments, quiet room available, inflatables, popcorn, lemonade, face painting, outdoor petting zoo, princesses, superheroes and more!
Trunk-or-Treat
October 21 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Gigi’s Playhouse
Come join us for some Halloween fun! All are welcome!
Sibshops
October 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Childserve-Johnston
Registration Required with $25 fee
Sibshops is a fun and engaging support group for children ages 6-12 who have a sibling with special needs.
At ChildServe‘s Sibshops event, your child will enjoy games, crafts, snacks and community with others who understand the unique relationships they have with their sibs! Each event is delivered in a 3-hour format on a weekend and led by ChildServe‘s team members who have received Sibshops facilitator training to provide this uplifting, fun event.
November
2024 Autism Society of Iowa Fall Education Conference and Resource Fair
November 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines
Register today for the 2024 Autism Society of Iowa Fall Conference featuring keynote speaker, Elizabeth (Liz) Delsandro, MS, CCC-SLP.
Waiver 101
November 11 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Childserve- Virtual
The Iowa Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs are Medicaid programs that provide service funding and individualized supports to help your child and family be more successful in the community and home setting. There are currently four waivers that children are eligible for in Iowa: Brain Injury (BI), Children’s Mental Health(CMH), Health and Disability (HD) and Intellectual Disability (ID). Join this training led by ChildServe’s Director of Care Access and Experience, Gaye Johnson, to learn if your child may be eligible and to better understand what the waiver program provides.
To register and receive the webinar link, please email learnwithus@childserve.org.
Multiple Dates
Autism Basics Webinar Series
Iowa Regional Autism Assistance Program
Free Webinar Series. Registration Required.
Free webinar series for parents or primary caregivers of children with a new autism diagnosis with Jillian Reiher, PhD.
- What is Autism? Wednesday, 9/18/2024, 12-1 PM
- Therapy Options Wednesday, 9/25/2024, 12-1 PM
- Treating Dangerous Behavior Wednesday, 10/2/2024, 12-1 PM
- School Programming Wednesday, 10/9/2024, 12-1 PM
Everyone is welcome. Note – some content will be Iowa-specific. Sessions will be recorded. Approved for foster parent training credit. For more information: Email Allison Drew allison-drew@uiowa.edu
Sensory Friendly Play Time
Des Moines Children’s Museum
The fourth Friday of each month is our Sensory Friendly play time for children on the autism spectrum or with other sensory sensitivities and their families to connect and explore in a quieter and calmer space.
All regular exhibits will be open. We will have sensory bins, communication boards, and a low light calming space
- Friday, September 27, 2024 5:00-7:00 PM: Sensory Friendly Play Time
- Friday, October 25, 2024 5:00-6:00 PM: Sensory Friendly Halloween Party
- Friday, November 22, 2024 5:00-6:00 PM: Sensory Friendly Play Time
- Friday, December 20, 2024 5:00-6:00 PM: Sensory Friendly Lights At The Museum
Sensory Friendly Showtimes
B & B Theatres
Check closer to the date for changes. Currently on the schedule:
- The Wild Robot on September 29
- Moana 2 on December 8
- Sonic 3 December 29
Everyone deserves the chance to enjoy an experience at the movie theater, but we understand that certain sensitivities can make this challenging. B&B Theatres, however, is committed to creating environments where cinema lovers of all types can watch a movie in comfort and without fear of judgment or rebuke. In order to better accommodate our guests with varying levels of physical or mental challenge, we host Sensory Friendly viewings in association with particular films. These showtimes feature brighter auditorium lighting, lower audio levels, and are open and available for folks that may have trouble in conventional cinema settings.
Sensory Spaces in the Metro
Metro Area Libraries
Sensory Spaces are Metro area libraries offering special hours for members of the public who appreciate a sensory-friendly environment. While individuals and families with special needs are welcome at our libraries during regular hours, these sensory times will offer quiet browsing, special programming, and other adaptive services that will vary by location.
- October 5 from 3-4 PM | Waukee Public Library
- November 24 from 1-2 PM | Urbandale Public Library
- December 29 from 12-1 PM | Grimes Public Library
Sensory-Friendly Hours
Science Center of Iowa
Registration Required. Cost: Free
The Science Center of Iowa is an exciting place, bustling with sights and sounds… but we provide a quieter, less crowded experience.
Families with children on the autism spectrum or children with sensory processing disorders will enjoy exploring the Science Center of Iowa with the help of Sensory Guide signage, which indicates audio, visual and activity stimuli.
Sensory-Friendly Hours are currently planned for the second Tuesday of each month from 4-7 p.m.!
Other Sensory Resources:
- Sensory Guide – This guide features coded maps, which indicate audio, visual and tactile stimuli in each space throughout the building. View Sensory Guide
- Sensory Backpacks – Available for checkout at the SCI Box Office, these backpacks are filled with tools to help you tailor your experience, including noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, weighted stuffed animals and fidget materials.
