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Chuck E. Cheese's Adds Sensory-Friendly Events to More Locations

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Update: Chuck E. Cheese’s announced in a press release plans to expand its sensory-friendly programming to all U.S.-based Chuck E. Cheese’s locations starting later this year. 

Over the past few months, several major companies, including Target, Toys “R” Us and Costco, have announced sensory-friendly events for people on the autism spectrum. Unfortunately, many of these events have been limited to one or two locations, making it hard for people beyond those locations to participate. Now, Chuck E. Cheese’s, in partnership with the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), is expanding their “Sensory Sensitive Sundays” program to include an additional 54 locations.

Chuck E. Cheese’s already hosts regular “Sensory Sensitive Sundays” at it’s Attleboro, Massachusetts and Glen Burnie, Maryland locations. In addition to its other locations, Chuck E. Cheese’s is adding sensory-friendly events to every one of its New York, New Jersey and New England locations – 54 venues in total.

The first of the new “Sensory Friendly Sundays” will be held on Sunday, January 8 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., before Chuck E. Cheese’s opens to the general public. Following the January 8 event, Sensory Sensitive Sundays will be held on the first Sunday of each month – including February 5, March 5, April 2 and May 7 – at all locations.

As part of the sensory-sensitive event, Chuck E. Cheese’s will dim the lights; turn off the radio, music and shows; exclude costumed characters – including the Chuck E. Cheese’s mouse mascot – from walking around the venue; allow outside food for children with special dietary needs and provide sensory-friendly training for staff members.

A spokesperson for CARD told The Mighty that these new programs are not mainstays, rather they are being tested, and, if all goes well, more events will be rolled out nationally over the next year.

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Photo credit: Mike Mozart

Originally published: January 7, 2017
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