Fraser worked with the Minnesota Twins and UnitedHealthcare in 2022 to provide consultation, customer service training, and sensory support staff for the space. You can also check out the UnitedHealthcare Sensory Suite at Target Field. Fraser also partnered with the Minnesota United in 2022 to provide free sensory kits at Allianz Field during games. Fraser has sensory support staff at the 3M Sensory Room at U.S. Several local sports teams have sensory accommodations for people of all ages. Feel free to call a venue to ask whether they offer an experience for sensory processing differences. These events are posted on organizations’ websites and often appear on promotional materials. When planning an outing, know that there are Twin Cities’ events, malls, performances, exhibits and more that offer sensory accommodations for guests. This helps your friend prepare and know what to expect. If it’s a new restaurant for your friend, send them pictures of the interior and exterior from the business’s website or social media. If the venue is generally busy and noisy, schedule your visit for a day or time that’s less busy, or consider going to a less crowded place to eat. “This is all extra planning outside of what goes into the actual experience itself, so it’s understandable how exhausting that must be.”įor dinner out, consider whether the restaurant is loud, has bright lighting or is usually crowded. For example, if they’re going somewhere new, they might choose to drive there ahead of time, so they know the route and how long it takes to get there, what the parking situation is like, and what the outside of the building looks like, to decide whether it will be a good experience for them,” says Fraser Sensory Certified TM Supports and Program Training Manager Gina Brady. “I’ve had adults tell me it feels like so much planning has to happen before the event, that sometimes they’re too exhausted to actually attend. If you have a friend with sensory processing differences, consider their sensitivities when you make plans. Plan outings that accommodate a friend’s sensory processing differences An anonymous survey ensures that staff feels comfortable making requests that support them. If you’re not sure how to accommodate employees, ask your staff. This eliminates strong scents, which might be too much for people with sensory sensitivities. Many offices have also moved to fragrance-free environments. If your office space is outfitted with cubicles, consider adding a sensory or calming space for employees to use when they need a break. Permit employees to wear noise-canceling or regular headphones while working. A cubicle office setup can be particularly problematic because partial walls introduce competing noises from different areas, which can be overwhelming for individuals with sensory differences. Some employees may be overstimulated by background noise. When that’s not possible, consider approaching your facilities team about adding fluorescent light covers or switching to incandescent lights in your area. Employees should be encouraged to turn off overhead lights and use lamps or natural lighting, where possible. Here are 5 ideas to better accommodate adults with sensory processing differences in the community.įor those with sensory sensitivities, overhead fluorescent office lighting can be too bright, and the buzzing sound it emits can be overwhelming. Widespread and accessible adult sensory accommodations can help these individuals participate more fully in life. Adults can have life experiences such as anxiety, PTSD, dementia or a traumatic brain injury that result in new sensory sensitivities in their lives. However, too often, these accommodations are geared toward children. More people are becoming aware of sensory issues, and businesses have started to follow suit with accommodations for their guests. They may find loud noises, bright lights, strong smells, crowds or other sensory input completely overwhelming. For these people, sensory overload can cause extreme discomfort. Sensory processing differences are common in people with autism, but also occur in people with anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Maybe you find loud music overwhelming or can’t stand the feeling of wool sweaters. We all respond to sensory information differently.
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