Sensory-friendly experiences help autistic children manage sensory input, build social skills, and support emotional well-being. Ascend Autism is dedicated to helping families find accommodating activities in the Nashville area. This guide highlights carefully chosen attractions, museums, libraries, recreational venues, and special events to help families plan enjoyable outings with confidence.
Major Attractions
Adventure Science Center
Adventure Science Center offers hands-on learning with sensory kits that include noise-canceling headphones and an on-site sensory room for quiet breaks. Their sensory-friendly planetarium shows feature dimmed lighting, lower volume, and relaxed seating, allowing children to move freely and engage comfortably.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
The Nashville Zoo offers complimentary Zooper sensory packs with visual schedules, fidget toys, and earplugs, plus a sensory-friendly map highlighting quiet zones. Thisbe & Noah’s Promise Park provides inclusive play for all abilities, and the annual Autism Awareness Day features tailored activities for neurodiverse visitors.
Nashville Children’s Theatre
Nashville Children’s Theatre offers sensory-friendly performances with adjusted lighting, lower sound, and a relaxed environment. Families can receive social stories in advance, and a sensory guide provides visual cues during certain shows. A lobby sensory room with an array of helps is available for quiet breaks.
Museums & Cultural Institutions
Frist Art Museum
The Frist Art Museum is known for its interactive exhibits and commitment to accessibility. Families with sensory-sensitive children will appreciate the museum’s accommodating staff, who are trained to assist visitors with special needs. The Martin ArtQuest Gallery provides a hands-on creative space where children can paint, draw, and sculpt at their own pace. Sensory kits are available upon request.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
For families interested in Nashville’s music heritage, the Country Music Hall of Fame offers sensory-friendly resources to make visits more enjoyable. Visitors can request free sensory kits that include noise-reducing headphones, fidget toys, and visual schedules. The museum also maintains a dedicated “Calm Room” on the third floor, providing a quiet retreat for visitors who may need a break from the exhibits. Interactive exhibits, like the recording studio and hands-on instrument stations, allow children to engage with music in a way that suits their comfort level.
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
Located a short drive from Nashville, the Discovery Center is a must-visit for sensory-friendly play and learning. On designated “All Access Nights,” the museum closes to the general public and opens exclusively for families with children with special needs. These events feature quiet, low-light environments, hands-on interactive displays, and opportunities for children to explore at their own pace without crowds or loud noises.
Tennessee State Museum
The Tennessee State Museum offers a rich cultural and historical experience in a calm and welcoming environment. The museum periodically hosts sensory-friendly open houses featuring adjusted audiovisual displays, dimmed lighting, and hands-on sensory-focused activities.
Libraries & Educational Spaces
Nashville Public Library (Main Branch)
The downtown Main Library is a model for inclusion, offering a brand-new Sensory Room in the Children’s Department. This dedicated space features soft lighting, glowing bubble tubes, fidget tools, and cozy seating areas where children can regulate their sensory input.
Local Library Sensory Programs
The Hendersonville Library also has a dedicated sensory room filled with interactive toys and calming elements. These initiatives reflect a growing library trend: making early literacy and learning events accessible and enjoyable for neurodiverse children. It’s always worth checking your local branch’s event calendar for sensory-friendly activities.
Outdoor Activities & Playgrounds
Cheekwood Estates & Gardens
Cheekwood’s 55-acre botanical gardens provide a peaceful outdoor escape for families looking for a low-sensory environment. Children can explore winding paths, gentle reflecting pools, and sensory-friendly plantings designed to encourage calm and relaxation.
We Rock the Spectrum
This specialized sensory gym offers a welcoming space for children of all abilities to play and build motor skills. The gym features suspended swings, crash mats, zip lines, and quiet tents, ensuring a fun and inclusive experience. Open play sessions provide a safe, judgment-free space for children who need sensory support.
Fannie Mae Dees Park (Dragon Park)
This Nashville playground is a favorite among local families due to its wheelchair-accessible structures, sandbox areas, and colorful mosaic dragon sculpture. The park’s open and relaxed environment makes it ideal for children who benefit from sensory-friendly play settings.
Sports & Recreation
The Miracle League of Music City
The Miracle League of Music City (with fields in nearby communities like Murfreesboro and Gallatin) enables kids with physical or developmental disabilities, including autism, to play baseball on an accessible, rubberized field. This removes the barriers (like uneven grass or loud crowds) that might otherwise keep some kids off the diamond, letting them experience the joy of teamwork and “being treated just like other athletes.”
Nashville Dolphins
The nonprofit Nashville Dolphins offers free swim lessons and team opportunities for children (and adults) with special needs, including autism. Certified instructors and volunteers work with swimmers at their own pace, focusing on water safety, confidence, and having fun — no loud whistles or high-pressure drills.
YMCA Full Circle Program
The YMCA of Middle Tennessee’s Full Circle Program offers individuals with diverse abilities access to various activities that encourage self-sufficiency, socialization, and staying active. Beyond adaptive swim classes, the program includes structured sports like basketball, softball, and soccer, providing a non-competitive environment for skill development and peer connection. Participants can also engage in group exercise classes and health support groups, promoting overall well-being. These inclusive offerings help build critical relationships with typically functioning peers, fostering a supportive community.
Special Events & Performances
Sensory-Friendly Movie Screenings
AMC Theatres hosts Sensory Friendly Films typically on the second and fourth Saturday mornings of each month. During these screenings, the house lights are turned up a bit, the sound is turned down, and families are free to walk around, sing along, or even dance without the usual theater rules. It’s a relaxed environment where no one minds a bit of extra noise or movement.
Regal Cinemas offers a similar program (often branded “My Way Matinee”) with low-volume, lights-up shows — usually the first show of the day on certain Saturdays.
Nashville Symphony Sensory Concerts
The Nashville Symphony presents sensory-friendly concerts with modified lighting and sound levels, fidget-friendly spaces, and relaxed audience expectations to ensure accessibility for all attendees.
Embracing Nashville’s Sensory-Friendly Opportunities
We hope these resources help you create joyful memories with your child in and around Music City. And remember, you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. Ascend Autism is here as a local partner in your child’s growth. We offer personalized ABA therapy, guidance, and unwavering support for Nashville families, empowering you and your child every step of the way.
If you’re looking for more help or tailored advice, reach out to Ascend Autism’s Nashville team. Together, we can ensure your child flourishes at home, at school, and out in the community, enjoying wonderful sensory-friendly activities like these.
