Six Flags Great America's autism awareness day will include quiet areas and special ride passes

A trip to Six Flags Great America is a fun way to spend a summer day with your family.

But it also can be overwhelming for anyone.

That's especially true if you have a condition that causes you to be easily overwhelmed, such as autism.

That's why Autism Speaks, an advocacy and support organization for families dealing with autism, reached out to Six Flags Great America last year to suggest an autism awareness day.

Last year's event was so successful that it's happening again this year, on June 15.

Here's what the park is doing to help families dealing with autism.

Quiet areas

Many times, people with autism need a place to decompress when they get overstimulated. So Great America will be designating different areas of the park, marked with signs, as quiet areas. Micaela McGinley, the park's communication specialist, said parents can go with their kids there to wind down. She said the park's primary quiet area will be at the Wilderness Theater, in Yukon Territory. 

Ride accessibility passes

Since it can be overwhelming for some people with autism to wait in long lines, Great America has Attraction Access Passes. The passes allow a family to go through the exits of rides so they can get on the rides without waiting with crowds of people.

The passes are available at all times at Great America, but McGinley said they're used more often during autism awareness day. To get a pass, guests should bring a doctor's note to the guest relations facility.

"The passes just make for an easier experience," McGinley said. "Families come up to us to tell us how great the passes are and how they make it easier to enjoy their day."

Education

The park will be open to everyone on June 15. That will allow Autism Speaks to educate people without autism about the disorder. There will be members of the group throughout the park talking to parents and kids and directing people to quiet areas if they need them.

"Team members and volunteers will be out there wearing their T-shirts to let everyone know what's going on," McGinley said.

If you go

Where: Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee, IL

When: Saturday, June 15, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Buy tickets online for $38.46. For $57.69, your ticket also includes an all-you-can-eat picnic buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the picnic grove. Admission to the Hurricane Harbor water park is included with both types of tickets.

Contact Amy Schwabe at (262) 875-9488 or amy.schwabe@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @WisFamilyJS, Instagram at @wisfamilyjs or Facebook at WisconsinFamily.