Ready for another round-up of inclusive activities in the Indianapolis area? If your family is seeking fun activities with adaptations that allow people of ALL abilities to participate, use this list as your starting point! May is full of options, whether your children love the arts, nature, sports, or a cozy library storytime.
If you haven’t already registered for an amazing Indy summer camp, now is your last chance to sign up before the season begins! Read to the end of this article for a couple of wonderful, inclusive camps that still have space for your child!
This list is created in partnership with Tendercare Home Health. For over 30 years, Tendercare has been helping medically complex children and their families thrive at home. Whether through paying family members to deliver care or connecting children with experienced pediatric nurses, Tendercare strives to enrich children’s lives at home in every way.
May Events for Children with Special Needs
Artism Craft Night
Magication Station, 124 W State St, Pendleton
May 10, 10 am
Children of all ages are invited to join friends at the toy store in downtown Pendleton for some crafts, snacks, a story, and a balloon animal from Elfie, the store’s mascot. The cost is $20.
Adaptive Dance Class
Hancock Wellness, 8535 North Clearview Drive, McCordsville
May 1, 5 pm
Join an inclusive aerobic dance class that is open to all ages and adapted for different abilities. All ages and abilities are welcome, including siblings! Parents of those under 18 must stay for the entire class.
We Rock the Spectrum Story Time
13644 N Meridian St, Carmel
May 5 and 19, 10 am
Gather at We Rock the Spectrum in Carmel for a story time. There will be songs, movement, and stories during this inclusive circle time. There is no additional cost to story time, but a Play Pass for 2 hours of playtime is required. We Rock the Spectrum is an all-inclusive kids’ gym.
Hindu Temple Special Needs Devotees
3350 N German Church Rd, Indianapolis
May 7, 6 pm
The Hindu Temple of Central Indiana has a more accessible service on the first Wednesday of every month. The whole family is invited to join.
Horsepower: Sensory-Friendly Carnival and Resource Fair
TherAplay, 9919 Towne Road, Carmel
May 8, 4:30 pm
This community-based carnival is $15 per person and includes adapted carnival activities and games, sensory-friendly prizes and giveaways, and a meet-and-greet with a racecar driver. Plus, guests can walk through the TherAplay barn to meet the therapy horses. Accommodations, such as a social story to read before the event, are available.
Accessible Birding
Eagle Creek Park
May 10, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
This outing is open to all ages and all levels of birders! This event is free with paid admission to the park ($6), but pre-registration is required. Eagle Creek has an ADA accessible loop trail.
Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical
Waldron Auditorium – 122 S Walnut St, Bloomington
May 11, 1 pm
Constellation Stage & Screen presents a sensory-friendly performance of Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical. This special performance is designed to create a theater experience welcoming to all families with children with autism or other sensory sensitivities. Tickets to Constellation’s Sensory-Friendly performances are Pay What You Will, meaning you get to choose your own ticket price (from $5-$75). Patrons are free to talk and leave their seats during the performance, fidgets and noise-canceling headphones are welcome, and resource materials are available online and at performances, so families know what to expect at the theater and during the show.
Lawrence Advisory Council on Disability 2025 Resource Fair
Fort Ben Library, 9330 E 56th St, Indianapolis
May 17, 11 am – 2 pm
The LACD will be hosting its yearly resource fair at the Fort Ben branch of the Indianapolis Public library. Various vendors will be there to share information and resources available in central Indiana.
Adaptive 5K
Central Park, 1195 Central Park Drive West, Carmel
May 17, 9:45 am
The Carmel Parks department invites persons with and without disabilities to participate in an Adaptive 5K to support recreation programs for individuals with disabilities. The course is fully accessible for participants who utilize wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids, and the event is sensory-friendly. Each participant can be provided with a support person throughout the race, if needed. The cost is $25 per participant, and pre-registration is required.
ASL Story Time at the Library
May 21, 10:30 – 11:00 am
Deaf and HOH families with preschoolers will enjoy the bilingual story time with ASL and English. The program is for both those who are deaf and those who are hearing.
Planning Ahead!
Learning to ride a bike is a difficult skill. Give your child a unique learning experience at the iCan Bike Camp, hosted by Easterseals Crossroads. This camp is for ages 8 and older and takes place June 16-20 at Perry Park Ice Rink – 451 Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis, 46227. The program is 75 minutes, children must have an adult guardian stay during the program, and the fee is $175.
Looking to have your teen with special needs attend a day camp this summer? Have you discovered that many places only take younger children or are already full? Here are two to look into:
- Camp Yes And is a project of the Center on Education and Lifelong Learning, in partnership with the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, two centers at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University. The 5-day summer intensive offers an improv theater summer camp for neurodiverse high school students. This free camp runs June 16-20. It takes place at The Church Within, located at 1125 Spruce St, Indianapolis, IN 46203. The camp day for youth runs from 1-4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
- Indy Parks’ Camp GATHER on the Move is a therapeutic recreation day camp for youth ages 14-18 who have intellectual and physical disabilities. GATHER on the Move campers will take part in activities that will help them become more self-sufficient in their daily living. Activities include life skills, community programs, and building communication skills. Campers will also participate in nature walks, large and small motor skills activities, life skills workshops, and weekly projects. Camp is offered for seven weeks during the summer. The camper-to-counselor ratio is 3:1
Here are our favorite things to do in Indy in May.
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