Salt Lake City (SLC) Airport has Opened its First Ever Sensory Room
Salt Lake City Department of Airports (SLCDA) has partnered with KultureCity to provide the first-ever sensory-inclusive space conveniently located in the A Concourse (East). This sensory room is the first accessible and inclusive space at the airport to offer a positive experience for all passengers with sensory needs.
The sensory room offers a warm and quieter environment for travellers inside the airport. The room features bean bags, visual light panels, activity panels, air walls, and ADA seating. To help better understand the needs of customers, the airport will train staff in how to recognize fliers with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation. Sensory bags equipped with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards, and weighted lap pads will be available to anyone who may feel overwhelmed by the environment. The airport also participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, joining hundreds of other airports around the world.
Whether it's a physical condition or something invisible, each of us sometimes does get overwhelmed.
- Uma Srivastava, the executive director of KultureCity
Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, PTSD, anxiety, dementia, Parkinson's, epilepsy, ADHD, and other similar conditions. One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to overstimulation and noise, both of which are common in airports.
Closing Thoughts: Other airports in places such as Pittsburgh (PIT), Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO), and Dubai (DXB) have added sensory rooms to help ease the traveling tension. Salt Lake City will open two additional sensory rooms later this year in different parts of the airport. Personally, I think these are great, and anything we can do to open travel to more has my vote!