If you’ve ever been to a stadium or an arena for a game, you know how loud and passionate some fans can get. It is easy to get lost in all of the excitement, especially if your favorite team is winning. Not everyone enjoys being in a large crowded and loud settings like this. Individuals with sensory processing difficulties may find it overwhelming to be at sporting arenas. Oftentimes, these individuals are not considered in the development of these spaces. Most of these large sporting venues are designed for typically developing individuals and those with visible disabilities such as a physical impairment, rather than those with invisible disabilities.

“10% of people live with an invisible disability” - CDC

“Invisible disabilities” may include anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These are all diagnoses that impact our ability to process sensory information. Sensory processing is our nervous system's ability to process incoming sensory information and interpret the messages from our sensory systems. A disruption to these signals, whether they are detected or not, is considered a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

We have 8 sensory systems that directly impact engagement in daily activities:

Tactile System (touch)
Visual System (sight)
Auditory System (hearing)
Olfactory System (smell)
Gustatory System (taste)
Proprioceptive System (deep pressure)
Interoceptive System (body insight)
Vestibular System (Balance)

You can learn more about each of these sensory systems in prior blogs we have developed if you would like to get a better understanding about how each sensory system impacts your body and participation in activities!

Sensory Friendly Arenas

To support individuals with sensory processing challenges, sensory-inclusive spaces are an amazing tool to enable not only the individual with sensory processing difficulties to participate, but also their family and friends who are likely in attendance with them! These spaces are designed to support individuals who experience an hyper (over) or hypo (under) sensitivity or sensory overload while in these settings. A sensory overload can occur when our brain receives more than what is considered to be normal input from these 8 senses than it can handle. Sensory rooms such as the ones we develop can help to ground our brains and relax our bodies' fight-or-flight reactions. Sensory rooms are a great addition to sports stadiums and arenas. Although there is no way to directly control the sound and excitement of the screaming fans, there is a way to create a uniquely tailored environment that can support individuals with SPD in feeling safe to prolong their ability to engage at the event.

Whether a free standing and transportable space for outdoor events or a structure built in to the event space in an underutilized room, SENSE-ational Spaces can support you in the transformation of the area to meet the needs of your many fans!

Let’s consider what a sensory room may look like as well as a few things that can be found inside the room and provides immediate relief for individuals with sensory processing challenges.

Did you know that SENSE-ational Spaces, LLC has worked with organizations for training purposes? Contact us to learn how we can assist you with training staff to better support and utilize your sensory friendly space! Having trained guest services that can provide assistance to get to and out of the room and also encourage correct and safe use of items is crucial.

Sensory spaces do not have to be expensive or challenging to implement. The main barrier is finding the right space to transform. Renovations can be done efficiently and promptly with the right people. Hiring the right professionals that are also experts in their field is crucial. At SENSE-ational Spaces, LLC our mission is to transform your space with sensory-rich experiences utilizing our knowledge as licensed and registrar occupational therapists.