Brandywine Railroad: Sensory Friendly Access Hours

Advance registration required for timeslot: 6–6:30 pm or 6:30–7 pm.

Individuals on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing disorder and their families are invited to join the museum for after-hours access to the Brandywine Railroad, a holiday favorite featuring trains running on 2,000 feet of track with more than 1,000 pieces, including locomotives, passenger and freight trains, and trolleys that pass through a small village, a farm, factories, and even a carnival and a drive-in movie theater. Interactive components are also incorporated into the display, operated by buttons and foot pedals that allow for further engagement.

Also on view is a Victorian dollhouse, which features eleven rooms filled with hundreds of miniature objects that will delight visitors of all ages, as well as four trees decorating with Brandywine Critters, ornaments made from natural materials.

Created in conjunction with local families and occupational therapists, this inclusive and accessible program strives to provide a welcoming experience through offering:

• Pre-visit social stories
• Reduced crowding and noise
• On-hand support of skilled and friendly volunteers
• Sensory regulation tools, such as fidgets, noise-cancelling headphones, sunglasses, and a sensory break area

This program welcomes participants of all ages and their families (grandparents, siblings, and others welcome!).

The event is scheduled from 5-7 p.m., with four arrival time slots to spread out the number of people in the galleries. Timeslots from 5–6pm are sold out.