Sensory Friendly Activities Ottawa

Sensory Friendly Activities Ottawa: A Complete Guide

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If you’re looking for special needs or autism-friendly activities in Ontario, this Sensory-Friendly Activities Ottawa guide has you covered.

On our last trip to Ottawa, we only had one day to explore. But we did manage to check out two museums to rate how autism-friendly they were. You can read our posts Is the Canadian Museum of Nature Autism-Friendly? and Is the Canadian Museum of History Autism-Friendly? for our full reviews. If you’re looking for tips on travelling with autism, check out my complete guide, or my road trip guide.

Unfortunately, neither of those museums offers sensory-friendly times, with reduced crowds and less noise.  When you’re travelling with a child with autism, finding places with scheduled sensory friendly times is always a bonus. They make the difference between enjoying the visit and just getting through it. Luckily, I’ve found some other Ottawa activities that do offer it.

In this guide, I’m highlighting eight sensory friendly activities Ottawa offers with scheduled sensory-friendly hours. After that, I’ll share some sensory-friendly accommodations available at other Ottawa attractions that don’t run official sensory sessions. I’ll also give my honest thoughts on a couple of major Ottawa landmarks, including why some may not be the best place to take an autistic child.

If you’re looking for autism friendly summer activities in Ottawa for your next vacation, this guide will help. Now, let’s get into these fun places to take an autistic child in Ottawa that truly understand how to help manage sensory needs.

My top 4 recommended hotels in Ottawa (and surrounding area)

Here are the best hotels in Ottawa and the surrounding area for families:

Venues with Sensory-Friendly Times

Finding autism friendly places to visit that offer dedicated low-sensory sessions is a huge win for families. These special time slots close the attraction to the general public, which means fewer crowds. They also often offer lower lighting and music/sound effect volume, and an overall calmer atmosphere. That’s what makes these the best sensory friendly activities Ottawa has to offer.

Ottawa Public Library: Sensory Storytimes

Libraries are naturally a great option if you’re looking for sensory friendly activities. They offer calm, quiet spaces that work well for children with autism. Many libraries are also stepping up with specialized programs designed for kids with sensory needs.

The Ottawa Public Library runs a Sensory Storytime on the first Thursday of every month. This program features dimmed lighting, sensory toys, and a smaller group. During circle time, children aged 18 months to 6 years old with developmental disabilities, delays, or autism can enjoy stories, rhymes, and songs.

This is a drop-in program (though you can register online to receive an email reminder), and parents/caregivers are required to stay with their child.

Canada Science and Technology Museum: Mellow Mornings

One of the best sensory friendly activities Ottawa offers is the Canada Science and Technology Museum’s Mellow Mornings. This 90-minute session provides a calmer, low-sensory environment for those who need it. Their guide-led activities provide hands-on experiences that are structured to minimize unexpected sensory triggers.

They also offer noise-canceling headphones and sensory guides to borrow for guests who need them. The museum also accepts the Access2 card, allowing a support person to attend for free.

Bank of Canada Museum: Sensory Sundays

While it initially sounds a bit boring, the Bank of Canada Museum is another top autism friendly place to visit in Ottawa.  They offer Sensory Sundays on select dates, with hands-on, sensory-friendly activities throughout the museum. These sessions run early, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, giving visitors the chance to explore before the crowd arrives. During the Sensory hour, the museum reduces noise and provides extra directional signs to make navigation easier.

While the museum opens to the general public at 10:00, the sensory activities continue to be available until 12:00. Families can borrow tools like noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, and sunglasses at the front desk. And, there’s even a designated quiet area for breaks. To help your child prepare, you can download the museum’s social story before you go.

Capital Fair: Special Needs Day

The Capital Fair hosts an annual Special Needs Day for children with developmental and/or physical disabilities. This autism friendly Ottawa event occurs every August, and is a must-do for families looking for sensory friendly activities in Ottawa for the summer.

The midway offers quieter, slower rides, making it easier for our kids to enjoy them.  They also offer a BBQ lunch and dessert, live entertainment and a petting zoo.  To attend this event, you have to apply, as they can only accommodate 1,500 guests. Applications open in February, and spots fill up fast.

Flying Squirrel Ottawa: Special Needs Day and Discounts

If you are looking for autism friendly play places to help burn some energy before visiting a museum, Flying Squirrel is a trampoline park that offers two great accommodations.

First, they turn down the music all day every Tuesday to create a more sensory-friendly environment.  While this can help with the noise levels, it is still open to the general public, so it won’t help with the crowd.

Second, they offer special rates. Guests with special needs can jump for $8 for one hour during regular admission hours, and children 12 or under can play in the Adventure Park for $20. Plus, an aide, parent, or caregiver (aged 18 or older) gets in with them for free.

To the Moon and Back Almonte: Quiet Sessions (Postponed)

About a 40-minute drive from Downtown Ottawa, To the Moon and Back is an indoor dramatic play center. They have a little village set up with places like a farm, bistro, and vet.

They previously offered quiet, sensory friendly events called Quiet Sessions every third Thursday. This event had limited attendance to create a calmer environment. Their website currently lists them as postponed, but they may bring it back. If you’re looking for autism friendly play places near Ottawa, check their website to see if it’s being offered again.

Cosmic Adventures: Sensory-Friendly Thursdays (summer only)

Cosmic Adventures, a large indoor play park, has previously offered Sensory Friendly Thursdays during the summer months. These times, typically from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., had reduced crowds and quieter music.

However, there is no longer a specific sensory-friendly time mentioned on their website. They may bring it back for the summer, so check their site if you are looking for autismfriendly play places for the summer months.

They also accept the Access2 card for free admission for one accompanying adult.

Autism Ontario Events: Outings for All Ages

Autism Ontario regularly hosts Autism friendly events that offer great options for activities for autistic teenagers and younger kids. These events often include things like sensory-friendly outings to local attractions.  Some past examples include Den Den Claw, Build-A-Bear workshops, and family skates.

They have also hosted adult-only events for people with autism who are 18 or older, like laser tag at Funhaven, paintball at Ottawa Pinball Arcade, and a sensory-friendly game day with the Ottawa 67’s hockey team. These events require registration in advance because tickets are limited.

Ottawa Attractions with Sensory Accommodations

Ottawa Attractions with Sensory Accommodations

Some of the best sensory friendly Ottawa Attractions don’t offer dedicated sensory hours, but still have some accommodations that can help autistic children or those with sensory needs. While the most helpful accommodation, in my opinion, is a dedicated quiet or sensory room, I only found one attraction and one event that offers that. Most commonly, the accommodation they offer is a sensory bag or kit, which is great if you forget your own (check out this article for ideas on what to put in yours) and free admission for a support person.

Ahoy Adventures: Recreational Multisensory Room

The best sensory friendly activity Ottawa offers is found at Ahoy Adventures. This pirate-themed indoor play place is about 40 minutes from downtown Ottawa in Casselman. While they don’t have specific sensory-friendly times, they do have a dedicated multisensory room.

This “Snoezelen” room is reserved for children with developmental disabilities. It’s filled with sensory-stimulating items like bubble columns, fiber optic cables, projections on the wall, tactile wall panels, vibrating cushions, an illuminated ball pool, and a cocoon swing, plus essential oil diffusers and white noise machines.

While play places can be difficult for children with sensory sensitivities, having a place to take a break when they get overwhelmed can make it manageable for some.

Children’s Festival: Quiet Tent

The Ottawa Children’s Festival offers a dedicated Quiet Tent. This tent is open to anyone who needs to take a break during the busy festival. It offers a comfy couch, changing table, and privacy walls.

They also accept the Access 2 card, which means a support person gets free admission.

Ottawa Museum Network: Sensory Bag Program

If you don’t have your own sensory bag, the Ottawa Museum Network offers a Sensory Bag Program at all member museums. These bags are free to borrow during your visit and are filled with resources to help visitors with various sensory needs.

Each bag contains one or all of the following: ear defenders, sunglasses, sensory/fidget toys, color communication cards, and a museum activity. You get a souvenir map card when you return the bag!

Here’s how to reserve them at each museum:

  • Bytown Museum: Walk-up or request online (coming soon). Choose only the items you need if prebooked, or receive one of each for walk-ups.
  • Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum: Walk up or request in advance at [email protected] or (613) 839-0007. You receive one of each item.
  • Goulbourn Museum: Reserve by filling out their online form. Choose the items you need.
  • Osgoode Township Museum: Walk up only, but you can check same-day availability by phone at (613) 821-4062. You receive one of each item, but can leave behind any you don’t need.
  • Muséoparc Vanier: Walk-up or reserve by email at [email protected]. Receive one of each item.
  • Watson’s Mill & Dickinson House: Bags can be reserved by phone, Wednesday to Sunday, between 9:30 and 4:30, by calling (613) 692-6455. Pick 3-4 items.
  • City of Ottawa Museums: Bags can be reserved by phone 48 hours in advance:
    • Billings Estate National Historic Site at (613) 580-2088
    • Cumberland Heritage Village Museum at (613) 580-2988
    • Fairfields Heritage House at (613) 580-9638
    • Nepean Museum at (613) 580-9638
    • Pinhey’s Point Historic Site at (613) 832-4347

Canadian Museum of Nature

The Canadian Museum of Nature was the first museum we visited on our one day in Ottawa tour. We’ve rated, in detail, every aspect of the museum (with a 5/10 overall rating), so check out our post, Is the Canadian Museum of Nature Autism Friendly, for full details on what they offer for sensory supports.

Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History was the other museum we visited and also rated. Check out Is the Canadian Museum of History Autism Friendly to see why I gave the Canadian Children’s Museum, located within it, a 3/10.

Canadian Agricultural and Food Museum

This isn’t just a museum; it’s also a real, working farm. So, there are many sensory experiences that might be overwhelming, like strong smells, loud machinery, and animal noises. Plus, the play areas and demonstration spaces tend to get crowded. They do offer a detailed sensory guide to help you prepare, there are sensory tools available to borrow, and they accept the Access 2 Card.

National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery offers Sensory Support Kits to borrow at the main entrance or in the Scotiabank Great Hall. The kits include dark glasses, noise-reducing earmuffs, and three different fidget toys. They also offer a sensory map to help you with planning, and free admission for a support person.

Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum

This museum is also part of the Sensory Bag program, with bags containing ear defenders, sunglasses, fidget toys, communication cards, and a photo scavenger hunt. 

Canadian War Museum

The Canadian War Museum museum has many immersive exhibits that use sound effects, like music and voices. Noise-cancelling headphones are available to borrow if you forget your own. To help you plan your visit, they offer a social story to read beforehand. A support person gets in for free with a visitor with a disability.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

This beautiful cathedral has fast-tracked access that lets you skip the line. Inside, the chapels of devotion are set aside as quiet areas. These spaces are meant for relaxation, so they naturally have less sensory stimulation.

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Possible triggers here are the noise (especially if it’s busy) and the lighting. You’ll want to bring your own noise-reducing headphones. They don’t offer much for sensory supports, but one support person gets free admission when they accompany a visitor with disabilities.

Sensory and Safety Considerations for Other Popular Ottawa Attractions

Safety Considerations for Popular Ottawa Attractions

Some of Ottawa’s most famous tourist attractions don’t offer special sensory friendly activities. But, if you plan to visit anyway, it’s helpful to know what to expect. Here’s a look at the crowds, noise, and potential safety challenges so families looking for autism friendly places can plan ahead.

ByWard Market

The ByWard Market is a busy and loud environment, especially on summer weekends. The best time for a more sensory friendly visit is early weekday mornings.

Hop-On Hop-Off Tours

A Hop-on Hop-off bus tour is a great option if you’re looking for activities for autistic teenagers that can keep them engaged all day.  While they don’t have special autism-specific features, they do help you avoid the stress of driving and parking at various museums.

But, of course, buses can be noisy and crowded. If you try it, I recommend bringing your own sensory kit (or at least noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, and fidget toys). Sitting on the open-top deck can also help.

Parliament Hill

You won’t find much for sensory friendly activities in Ottawa on Parliament Hill.

Tours inside the Parliament buildings are boring for younger kids. However, watching the Changing of the Guards ceremony, or Ceremonial Guard Band, is an enjoyable activity for autistic teenagers and adults (Brie loved watching the band).

The biggest issue here is safety. It gets very busy, especially during the ceremony or band show. If your child struggles with crowds, this is a higher-risk attraction, so you’ll need to watch them closely and take other safety measures like AirTag, Tile, or Smart Tag worn in a bracelet, necklace, shoe insole or hidden AirTag pocket or a wrist leash, waist leash, or child safety harness.

Rideau Canal Locks

The Rideau Canal Locks can be a fun place to take an autistic child. Watching the boats go through the locks is a great experience, especially if your child has a special interest in boats.

Here’s the problem: There is no fence or barrier around the canals. You can walk right up to the edge of the water.  You need to be extremely cautious with young children or those who have little to no understanding of danger. For a child who might wander or run, this may not be the best place to visit.

Sensory-Friendly Activities Ottawa Offers: Final Thoughts

Finding the dedicated Sensory Friendly Activities Ottawa offers wasn’t easy, but at least there are some options. As a parent of an 18-year-old with autism, it’s encouraging to see the travel and tourism industry starting to make attractions and activities more accessible for our kids.

While not every attraction offers sensory-friendly times, knowing which ones do can help you plan an itinerary that balances dedicated sensory friendly activities in Ottawa with other sites that only provide accommodations to make visits easier.

If you know of other fun places to take an autistic child in Ottawa, or autism friendly summer activities around Ontario, join our new Autism on Vacation Facebook group to let us know. And make sure to follow us on Facebook and TikTok to see more autism friendly events, activities, and attraction reviews.

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