COLUMBUS, Ohio — Bobby Fusco is an avid visitor of the Columbus Zoo. 

Like any zoo-goer, he loves to see the giraffes, but the way he experiences the popular destination is a little different from most others.

What You Need To Know

  • The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is making their zoo more inclusive for visitors with developmental disabilities
  • The zoo is now offering sensory bags, extended quiet hours and headphone zones

  • Bobby Fusco, a zoo visitor with a developmental disability, visits the zoo every time the the quiet hours are extended 

  • The sensory bags include; headphones, sunglasses, fidget spinners and a communication card for visitors who are non-verbal

“It’s times we would never have come to the zoo,” said Bobby’s mom, Becky Fusco. “It’s too loud, too much music, too many people.”

Bobby has MCAP syndrome and whenever it’s too loud, he doesn’t feel comfortable. That used to be the case when he visited the zoo, but thanks to some recent changes, it’s not anymore.

“We finally noticed that Bobby did not have his DVD with music that he uses all the time to block out the world,” said Fusco. 

To make the zoo more inclusive for everyone, it has incorporated extended quiet hours and headphone zones for individuals who have auditory needs. 

“We want this park to be accessible and inclusive to any guests who may want to come. So things like the sensory bags, our quiet hours, which we do the first four hours of the first Sunday of each month and various sensory events, which is something that seemed so easy and like such an obvious add to just make it feel welcoming,” said Sam King, the director of operations at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Sensory bags are filled with auditory and visual devices for people with developmental disabilities to use throughout the zoo to make their experience more comfortable. King said there’s a little bit of everything in these bags. 

“Those headphones that our guests can use as we reference with headphone zones, there’s sunglasses, and then there’s various fidget toys for those who may need them,” said King. 

The bags also contain a communication card designed to help people who are nonverbal. All of it, an attempt to help families feel more comfortable. 

“We definitely feel more comfortable coming to the zoo with the sensory events,” said Fusco. 

And Fusco knows they’re not alone.

“I think when you come here, you’re going to look around and see kids with special needs, kids with different abilities. And that just makes your heart happy,” said Fusco. 

Besides holding quiet hours during the first Sunday of every month, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also has several sensory-friendly events scheduled throughout the year. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.