PHOENIX (February 18, 2022) — The nonprofit organization Pal Experiences has partnered with the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) to create free tools to help people with autism and other developmental disabilities enjoy their next trip to the museum.

MIM is proud to become one of Pal Experiences’ Pal Places, joining a network of organizations dedicated to offering exceptional experiences to guests of all abilities. By doing so, MIM has taken steps to become more inclusive for people in the community with autism and other developmental disabilities.

In partnership with Pal, MIM has created a video tour showing guests what they can expect during a visit and an interactive digital guide to assist with communication and getting around the museum. The video features a local family’s visit to MIM, from parking and ticketing to taking turns playing instruments in the Experience Gallery and shopping in the Museum Store for a souvenir. It can help guests plan around sensory activities and set expectations for a fun visit.

“Music provides a way to connect with others,” says Brian Dredla, director of education and public programs at MIM. “Since its inception, MIM has developed a wide range of educational programs that inspire learners of all ages and abilities. We are grateful to Pal Experiences for highlighting our commitment to an inclusive environment and helping us share the MIM experience with those audiences who are impacted by autism and other developmental disabilities.”

Just like a ramp or curb cut helps people in our community with mobility challenges, the video and interactive guide help accommodate the 1 in 6 children with nonvisible developmental disabilities and help them enjoy experiences in the community. The tools were created with evidence-based best practices in behavioral therapy but use universal design, making them an asset to any MIM guest who would like to know what to expect.

The Pal partnership is one of many accessibility and inclusion programs being implemented at MIM.

Pal Experiences and MIM hope that the tools they’ve created will be socially transformative and propel other businesses and entertainment venues in the community to recognize the need to accommodate this growing, exceptional community.

“Music is such an important outlet, to me personally and to many individuals with disabilities,” says Melanie Isaacs, founder and chief inclusion officer of Pal Experiences. “MIM is for everyone, and thanks to this partnership, parents who were once reluctant to go because a family member is on the spectrum, has sensory sensitivities, or gets anxious over new places can visit with the resources and confidence to make their own great music memories. It is very rewarding.”

The video tour and digital guide, along with other accessibility information, are available at MIM.org/plan-your-visit.

***

About MIM

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) enriches our world by collecting, preserving, and making accessible an astonishing variety of musical instruments and performance videos from every country in the world. MIM offers guests a welcoming and fun experience, incomparable interactive technology, dynamic programming, and exceptional musical performances. MIM fosters appreciation of the world’s diverse cultures by showing how we innovate, adapt, and learn from each other to create music—the language of the soul.

The Musical Instrument Museum is located at 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard in Phoenix (corner of Tatum and Mayo Boulevards, just south of Loop 101). For general museum information and a full schedule of events, visit MIM.org or call 480.478.6000.

Find MIM on Facebook: Facebook.com/MIMphx
Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube: @MIMphx

MIM Press Contact
Melissa Parsoff
mparsoff@parsoff-communications.com

***

About Pal Experiences

Pal Experiences creates digital tools that connect individuals and families impacted by autism, anxiety, and other developmental disabilities with businesses inspired to offer them a better customer experience. Learn more at PalExperiences.org, and connect with Pal on Facebook and Instagram.

Pal Experiences Contact
Melanie Isaacs
Pal Experiences Founder & Chief Inclusion Officer
melanie@palexperiences.org
608.345.0507

DOWNLOAD PDF