As airports grow busier and travel becomes increasingly accessible, a new trend is emerging to support passengers with sensory sensitivities: sensory rooms. These specialized spaces are designed to provide a calming refuge for travelers, particularly children, who may find the typical airport environment overwhelming. For highly sensitive children, bustling airports—with their bright lights, loud announcements, crowded spaces, and complex smells—can easily lead to sensory overload, making travel a stressful experience.
Sensory rooms are a transformative development in air travel, offering families an opportunity to navigate the airport with greater ease. By providing quiet zones with soft lighting, comfortable seating, and calming activities, airports are helping to make travel more accessible and enjoyable for all, reshaping the experience for families with sensitive children and marking a significant shift in airport design.
Airports, with their constant noise, bright lights, and crowds, can be overwhelming for anyone, especially sensitive children. Sensory overload happens when a child’s nervous system is bombarded with too much external input. This often leads to behavioral changes.
Airport sensory rooms offer a quiet place to de-stress and process their experience. These rooms usually include soft lighting, comfortable seating, and sensory toys. Spending time in these rooms offers children with sensory sensitivities a place to take a step back and recharge.
Airport sensory rooms can make travel easier. Understanding the specifics and availability of these rooms can help families plan better trips, especially when looking for kid-friendly airports.
More airports now offer sensory rooms and other accessibility features. They recognize the importance of these rooms for travelers’ sensory issues. Knowing which airports provide these accommodations can make travel smoother for families.
| State | Airport (Code) | Sensory Room Details |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) | Sensory room with bubble tubes, fiber optic lighting, tactile panels, a quiet space, and calming colors. |
| Arizona | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) | Quiet rooms, sensory bags (upon request) with noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, weighted lap pads, and staff trained to assist those with sensory needs. |
| California | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Multi-Sensory Room (in terminal 6) with soft lighting, bean bags, interactive displays, and soundproof walls. |
| California | San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | Quiet Terminal Program, dedicated quiet spaces are available, staff trained to assist those with sensory needs. |
| Georgia | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) | Multi-Sensory Room (in F concourse) with a bubble wall, touch panels, soft seating, and dimmable lighting. Additional quiet areas throughout different terminals. |
| Illinois | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | Sensory room (in terminal 2) with fiber optic curtains, bubble tubes, activity panels, and quiet spaces. They also have family restrooms with reduced lighting. |
| Massachusetts | Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) | Wings for Autism program, quiet areas and staff trained in sensory awareness. |
| Michigan | Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) | Sensory room with plush seating, bubble walls, interactive light displays, and sound dampening technology.. |
| Minnesota | Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) | Sensory suite (in concourse C) with rocking chairs, dimmed lighting, soundproof walls, and sensory toys. |
| New Jersey | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) | Quiet Terminal Program and multiple sensory rooms with tactile walls, fiber optic lights, and calming spaces. |
| Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) | Presley’s Place sensory space includes calming lights, a family restroom, interactive activities, a practice aircraft cabin, and is soundproof. |
| Pennsylvania | Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) | A sensory room (located in the concourse building) with low lighting, a mounted projector, and other sensory equipment. |
| Texas | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | Multiple sensory rooms throughout different terminals with bubble tubes, textured walls, quiet spaces, and adjustable lighting. |
Not all airports have dedicated sensory spaces. Many are still developing these accommodations. Contacting the airport or checking online resources can help locate airport sensory rooms. For those flying with an airline like American Airlines, inquire about special assistance like priority boarding or sensory kits. These kits often contain noise-canceling headphones and comforting items.
Planning for ongoing sensory needs is important, even after arriving. Researching sensory gyms, such as those found in cities like Atlanta, can be beneficial.
Pack a smaller bag for your child with weighted lap pads, blankets, and other comforting items. These provide physical touch feedback and create a calming effect. Having a personal carry-on backpack empowers children and helps them feel prepared in new airport environments, like sensory rooms. Addressing individual sensory needs is crucial, regardless of how well a child handles changes.
An airport sensory room is a quiet, private space designed for travelers with autism, sensory sensitivities, or other special needs. It helps them cope with sensory overload and regulate before or after a flight.
This interactive space is usually a quiet designated area filled with features aimed at stimulating multiple senses. Mood lighting and interactive projections create a calming atmosphere. Changing visuals paired with background music offer an engaging, quiet place to recharge between connections.
Airport sensory rooms are typically free for travelers. Access may require adhering to airport or terminal-specific regulations.
No, not every airport has sensory rooms. It’s best to check ahead of time and confirm whether or not the airport you are going to has one. Sensory rooms in airports are relatively new, but if you are traveling through an airport without a sensory room, consider checking with your airline to see if they provide sensory kits instead.
The rise of sensory rooms in airports is reshaping the air travel experience for families with sensitive children, providing a vital service that offers relief from the often-overwhelming airport environment. By offering a calming space for children to decompress, these rooms help ensure a smoother journey for both children and their caregivers, fostering a more inclusive travel experience overall.
Take advantage of these new amenities by checking airport resources in advance. Knowing which airports provide sensory rooms can aid in trip planning and offer families peace of mind, knowing that a quiet, supportive space is available if the journey becomes too stimulating. As more airports invest in sensory rooms and other inclusive features, the air travel industry moves closer to creating a truly welcoming environment for all passengers.
Introducing Airport Sensory Rooms: A New Era of Calm in Travel
Jill Gilbert
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