Taronga Zoo to open doors an hour early for guests with autism

Sydney’s Taronga Zoo will attempt to cater for the needs of customers with autism spectrum disorder by opening its doors an hour early tomorrow.

The world-famous zoo, celebrated for its collection of native animals as well as foreign fauna, is set to launch its first Access Taronga day this weekend, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The Access day will see doors open to guests on the autism spectrum, their families, and carers at 8.30am, ahead of the regular 9.30am opening time.

At least 44 families have registered to attend, and more days are expected to be scheduled, according to demand.

The openings, which remove the stress of crowds and queues, will include early access to animal meet and greets and the Sky Safari Cable Car.

Special training for 120 zoo staff members has been provided for the Access days so the staff can be available on site to provide assistance to guests.

Autism is a developmental condition which affects approximately one in 100 Australian children and can lead to hypersensitivity to crowds and noise.

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