National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: A Haven for Sensory-Sensitive Visitors

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, a symbol of Western traditions and heritage, is proud to reaffirm its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility by achieving its recertification as a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).

“The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum serves guests from various communities and abilities. Training staff to be adaptable to and aware of guests’ needs and offering available resources helps create the welcoming environment the museum strives to create. As a Certified Autism Center™, the museum demonstrates its commitment to its core values by creating avenues for all guests to ‘Find their West’,” shares Diana Fields, VP of Grant and Education Advancement.

Ever since it first earned the CAC title, the museum has taken an active stance towards creating an accommodating environment for visitors with autism and those sensitive to sensory input. In collaboration with the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma, the museum now offers 23 sensory kits at no extra charge. These kits include items like weighted blankets, noise-reduction headphones, communicative aids, and a variety of tactile tools, all aimed at providing a more comfortable visit for everyone.

In its ongoing effort to promote inclusiveness, the museum formed a partnership in 2023 with Aspiring Attitudes, a charity focused on making dance available to people with any level of ability. This partnership has introduced the spirit of Western dance to specific museum events and family-oriented programs, highlighting dance as a universal form of expression.

With the goal of creating a sensory-friendly space, the museum has updated its sensory guides—provided by IBCCES—to feature a color-coded system that’s accessible throughout the museum’s premises. Moreover, it has developed social stories tailored for three specific experiences: a typical visit to the museum, an educational group tour, and the museum’s celebrated yearly festivals.

Diana Davis, guest services manager, shares, “To see the impact we have on families’ lives when they walk in knowing that their kids are in a safe place is priceless. It is a gift that these families do not take for granted. There are several examples I could give, but the one I think is the most important is about a father and a son. The son is in his twenties, and he is on the autism spectrum. He had a sensory overload at the museum, and his father was impressed with how we handled the situation. They became members after that.”

“IBCCES is proud to support the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in its mission to be an inclusive destination for all visitors. Our comprehensive training and certification process ensures that institutions like the museum are equipped with the latest information and best strategies to serve the needs of all guests, including those who are autistic or have sensory needs,” shares Myron Pincomb, IBCCES board chairman. “This commitment to continuous improvement is what makes the museum a true leader in the cultural community.”

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