Schedule of Free Events for Visitors with Disabilities and their Families, January to June 2026
ACTON - Discovery Museum announced upcoming dates for the first half of 2026 for the Especially for Me series of free events for families and groups with members who may have a disability, including sensory sensitivities, visual impairments, learning differences, and/or hearing loss.
The popular events offer accommodations that increase access to and enjoyment of the Museum’s ADA-compliant facilities. Because admission is free, families may come and go based on their needs without concern for cost. Visitors also have the chance to meet others in similar circumstances, thereby reducing feelings of isolation and judgement by others often described by families dealing with special needs. A medical diagnosis is not required to attend.
All Especially for Me events are free to attend, but preregistration is required. Dates and registration links can be found online at http://bit.ly/EspeciallyforMe.
January to June 2026: Especially for Me Event Schedule
Inclusive Afternoons, Tuesdays 1:30 to 4:30pm Museum is open to the public, but lower visitation is expected.
- January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2
Special Evenings, Saturdays 5:00 to 8:00pm Museum is closed to the public. Dinner, including a gluten-free option, is provided at no cost.
- Autism-Friendly Evening – January 10
- Evening for Deaf, Blind, or DeafBlind – January 31
- Inclusive Evening – February 28, March 21, May 16, June 27
- Mask On, Play On! – April 11
Morning for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and KODA visitors – date tba
Discovery Museum’s campus is ADA-compliant and all exhibits are accessible, designed according to Universal Design principles to be both aesthetically pleasing and usable by the widest possible range of people, without regard to age or ability.
Special resources are always available including noise-reducing headphones, a Social Story and Sensory Map (both online and on-site; available in eight languages), and a designated “Take a Break” space. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters may be requested during registration. Parking is always free and dinner, including a gluten-free option, is provided at all evening events.
Especially for Me is part of the museum’s Open Door Connections program to provide opportunities for those who face a variety of barriers—financial, developmental, or cultural—to experience the Museum.
Especially for Me is made possible by DCU for Kids, with additional support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
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Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum for families that blends science, nature, and play. The museum and its Discovery Woods accessible outdoor nature playscape and giant treehouse blend the best of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning on a beautiful 4.5-acre campus abutting 180 acres of conservation land in Acton, MA, about 20 miles west of Boston. Originally founded in 1982 and expanded to two museums in 1987, the museum reopened in a single, 16,000sf accessible building after a complete renovation and expansion in early 2018. Hands-on, open-ended exhibits developed by professional educators inspire curiosity and exploration, providing a fun and engaging experience for children and adults to discover their world together. Serving families and schools from towns throughout the region, the museum is devoted to informal education that enhances classroom learning. Discovery Museum is committed to accessibility and is a proud recipient of the Massachusetts Commonwealth Award, the only winner in the Access category, and a LEAD® Community Asset Award from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
In 2024 Discovery Museum was awarded a National Medal for Museum Service from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the nation’s highest honor awarded to museums that make “significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.” Discovery Museum is a community-supported non-profit organization.
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