Eleven Fairfield County Attractions Partner to Accommodate Visitors With Special Needs

Healthy Living

By DARIENITE.COM | March 27, 2019

Two Programs at Maritime Aquarium Get National Recognition

By DARIENITE.COM | September 15, 2019

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s interpretive training program for volunteers and its county-wide effort to support guests with special needs are being celebrated as two of the top initiatives of any zoo and aquarium in America. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

The Maritime Aquarium’s “Conversation 2 Conservation” training program and its “Accessibility for All” effort were among the top honorees during the national conference of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums this week in New Orleans. The AZA is the organization that sets the top standards for animal care and guest safety at North American zoos and aquariums. Currently, only 236 institutions meet the strict criteria for AZA acceditation. Both of the Maritime Aquarium programs receiving 2019 AZA awards were initiatives of the Aquarium’s Education department. “Both of these awards provide recognition for innovative steps we are taking to serve Aquarium guests in exciting new ways,” said Tom Naiman, director of Education.

« August 2022 »

Eleven Fairfield County attractions are working to reduce the stresses of planning — and accomplishing — visits for guests with special needs through a new partnership called “Accessibility for All.”

Beginning April 2, anyone who wants to know how the 11 attractions accommodate guests with special needs will be able to find the information all on one website —AccessibilityForAllCT.Org. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

Previously, potential guests had to dig through each attraction’s website, in some cases only to end up finding little or no information at all. The 11 organizations participating in “Accessibility for All” are:

• Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, which organized the effort, and Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk

• Earthplace, the nature center in Westport

• Connecticut Audubon Society in Fairfield

• Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo and Discovery Museum in Bridgeport

• Stamford Museum & Nature Center in Stamford

• Audubon Greenwich and the Bruce Museum in Greenwich

• Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield

• EverWonder Children’s Museum in Newtown

The new “Accessibility for All” website also will be updated as the attractions present special events geared for this important customer group. Fairfield County attractions have never teamed in such an exceptional way before, said Tom Naiman, director of Education for The Maritime Aquarium. “‘Accessibility for All’ springs from a realization that, by working together, all of our institutions can do a better job of welcoming guests with special needs,” Naiman said.