The Iowa Children's Museum — Attraction in Coralville

On October 2nd we drove all the way to Coralville to visit the museum with my adult special needs daughter and only to be turned away at first by the person at the front desk telling us, "well you can't go in, because we have no kids!" It was a major disappointment for us, as we drove all this way and telling someone with autism they are not allowed to go in because of their age. We viewed their website before we left and nowhere on their website it states they do not allow anyone without children under a certain age into their museum. It states, "ICM (Iowa Children's Museum) for Everyone Play is for everyone! We are proud to offer free admission, memberships, and events as part of our ICM for Everyone accessibility programs." A facility in the vicinity of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, you think they'd be more understanding for someone with disabilities. The receptionist seemed annoyed and called multiple people on her headset until someone she spoke with let us in. But the way we were treated was beyond discriminatory. Other employees in the building made us feel unwelcome. They followed us around the facility and into the bathroom, twice by the same employee while we were the only people using the restroom. Staring at us and asking us if we were lost or looking for someone. It was one very memorable unpleasant experience we had to say the least. They should accept all individuals with disabilities in their facility, regardless of age.

In response to Gretchen's response on 10/20/22. You stated "we welcome individuals with disabilities and want everyone to have opportunities to play". Then why did they give us such a hard time to enter the museum and state we needed to have a child with our group? And what information was needed when we did not need to provide any information or was asked for any information. You stated they were locating a missing child that day, which might have been a different time from when we were there. As there were not many families and did not hear anything about a missing child and like I said there was not many people in the museum on early Sunday. The employees followed us around room to room and did not look like they were looking for a missing person and they are the ones that asked us if we were lost or looking...

My kids (2 and 4) absolutely love to visit the ICM. We have a family membership, so we visit often, usually on weekends, but occasionally we do a midweek visit after work/daycare if we have time. Several things have changed since we first got our membership two and a half years ago (thanks, COVID), but the fun and engagement have been constant.

My daughter has always really enjoyed the aviation room, ever since her first visit when she was only 1. She has always been a big fan of the giant slide, but as she is getting older, she's starting to get more interested in the flight simulators. She also really loves the skateboarding room and hospital; she has always had an interest in visiting the doctor and learning about medicine and she loves to give the doll patients x-rays and band-aids. On a recent visit, we spent half an hour visit in the farmhouse upstairs while she pretended to prepare me an elaborate meal on the kitchen stove with the "ingredients" in the house and on the farm.

My son is still exploring and learning what he wants to learn. He loves to push the scarves into the air tubes in the aviation room (I miss the puff balls, they were easier, but I'm sure they were harder to clean), the skate boards, going grocery shopping, and climbing on the castle in the pirate ship room.

And, of course, they both love Peter the turtle. He's always a popular distraction if I have to wait for a few minutes to get us checked in.

The museum is mostly patronized by families with younger kids, so it's unlikely they will get knocked over by an overly excited group of middle schoolers, and adults are not allowed if they aren't with a kid. We try to stay together in one room at a time, but I know that if my daughter runs ahead of us a bit while we are transitioning from room to room, it's a relatively safe place for her with all the employees/volunteers and other...

I have taken my son ( now 5) down to Coralville from Cedar Rapids 3 times since he was 2ish. They haven't really changed anything up within those 3 years but really why fix something that isn't broken. So much to experience and see in this space at the corner of a huge mall dedicated just for the museum. There really us something for everyone as I truly enjoyed the Space and aviation part where you can fly a plane!! Not really but in simulation yiu can. Although this most recent trip the Sims were a little beat up and not working properly. ( again, something they haven't changed in atleast 3 years) and you can imagine all the tiny hands that have touched these poor machines...lol. anyway really cool spot but could use a makeover. I don't think the $10 was a bad entry fee but I'd feel better spending that knowing g I 2as going to see some updated material. Will go back I'm sure because you really can't experience it all...