Sensory rooms offer shelter from the storm of frenetic sporting events

For someone with autism, attending a professional sports game can be difficult.

These people may be upset by noise, lights and other stressors in a stadium full of frenzied fans.

But increasingly, they can find a welcome break in sensory rooms, spaces designed as a haven for people with cognitive disabilities.

“One of the biggest challenges for these individuals is sensitivity to overstimulation and noise,” the Philadelphia Union football team said in a statement earlier this year when it opened a sensory room at its home, Subaru Park.

“With the addition of the Union, all major league sports teams and venues in Philadelphia are now certified as sensory-inclusive, becoming the second city in the United States to achieve this,” the Chester team noted in April.

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Other venues adding sensory rooms this year include Wrigley Field in Chicago, Madison Square Garden in New York and Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

“As the prevalence rate of autism increases to one in 36 children, the need for sensory-friendly resources and supports for autistic people is at an all-time high,” said Ryan Hammond of the Eagles Autism Foundation in September 2023.

That’s when the football team announced an update to its sensory room — “designed by medical professionals for those who may need a calmer, safer environment.”

What are sensory rooms?

With fans unable to return after leaving Lincoln Financial Field, a statement from the Eagles said, the sensory room “allows guests to take breaks and then rejoin the experience.” While sensory rooms were created with the autism community in mind, people with PTSD, anxiety, dementia and other disorders also benefit. The rooms typically offer a dim setting with soothing lights, beanbags and a variety of activities for the typically young visitors.

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Local venues, including those at the Wells Fargo Center and Citizens Bank Park, were created in partnership with KultureCity, an Alabama nonprofit that advocates for people with “invisible disabilities.”

Founded in 2014, KultureCity has certified more than 1,800 sensory-friendly establishments in the United States and abroad. The process requires establishments to train their employees to recognize customers with sensory issues and how to respond if they encounter a problem.

Sites typically offer “sensory bags” with noise-canceling headphones, stress toys and verbal cue cards that can offer an alternative means of communication.

Also common: weighted cushions that can help relax an autistic person.

Additionally, local businesses offer services for people with sensory issues.

Mount Laurel’s Funplex entertainment center, for example, has toned down its usually frenetic atmosphere for periodic “sensory nights.”

And Camden’s Adventure Aquarium offers a quiet hour from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the third Sunday of every month.

“On Sensory Sundays, we lower the music, dim the lights and reduce crowds to create the most enjoyable experience for guests and families with sensory needs,” a spokesperson said.

In addition to offering sensory bags, the aquarium places signs in “headphone zones,” alerting visitors to noisier areas and reminding them to use noise-canceling headphones, if necessary.

A “designated quiet zone” can be used as a private space for guests experiencing sensory overload.

How important is it to be sensory inclusive?

“We strive to provide an inclusive and seamless experience for all of our visitors, including those with sensory needs,” noted Jennifer Porter, the aquarium’s executive director.

“The main goal is inclusion,” said Kristen Jezior, a Magnolia social worker.

She said a sensory room “gives families a chance to go (to a high-stimulus event) without worrying about who can’t go.

“It gives them an opportunity to be part of the community and their support system, gives them an opportunity to regroup and recharge,” Jezior continued.

Nick Butler is an impact reporter for the Courier Post, Daily Journal and Burlington County Times covering community news in southern New Jersey. Have a tip or story? Contact [email protected]. Subscribe to stay up to date.

This article was originally published on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Sensory rooms now available for fans of area major league teams