Alaska SeaLife Center–great sensory input experience for the developmentally disabled

Monday, June 22nd, 2009 | Accessible Travel, Disability Awareness and Sensitivity

On any of our visits to Seward, we must take Quincy to the Alaska SeaLife Center. It is an amazing experience for people of all abilities, but for Quincy it is truly unique. She is simply captivated by watching the fish, otters and sea lions from the large, underground glass tanks. We can sit for hours in front of Woody, the giant male sea lion and watch him swim graceful arcs past Quincy in his tank.

Aquariums and hands-on learning centers are great places for children with disabilities to experience. Most of these places encourage children to touch and feel and smell and, for children like Quincy, the sensory input is powerful. Plus, aquatic centers have a wonderful sense of calm about them, which is something else that Q is drawn to. There is a serene, almost hypnotic, feeling that comes from sitting in front of a tank of beautiful fish.

We usually walk to the SeaLife Center so we use our large jog stroller for Quincy. She is very comfortable in it and the facility is large enough for maneuver easily with the larger stroller. This is Q and I in front of the sea lion tank. We are waiting for Woody, the very large adult male sea lion, to swim on by.

Here is Woody as he approaches Quincy and I. It seems as if he is looking right at us each time he swims by…I’m not sure he really is, but it feels like it.

In this image we are lucky enough to have both Woody and a female companion swim by us at the same time. It’s amazing the size difference between the two!