Whether a member of your family has sensory processing challenges or just feels overwhelmed when you’re adventuring, you may not be far from a sensory space.

Sensory spaces—whether dedicated rooms or full venues—have been popping up in communities around the world. It’s not unusual these days to find them in any potentially overwhelming environment—airports, hotels, community centers, libraries, amusement parks and fairs, hospitals, museums, schools, malls and occasionally stadiums. 

Because of neurodiversity and special needs within our own family, finding nearby sensory spaces is often imperative to ensure a positive travel experience. But we’ve discovered that the whole family—regardless of neuro status—appreciates these thoughtfully designed and interactive havens. 

What are they?

While they continue to evolve as new trends and innovations merge with best practices and data, sensory spaces are dedicated, controlled, multisensory environments to support the sensory processing challenges, emotional regulation and overall well-being of individuals.

How do they work?

Sensory spaces are designed to calm, relax and focus the visitor and often include curated components such as:

• Soft and adjustable lighting
• Projected moving images or patterns and light display to engage visual senses and provide a calming effect
• Ambient music and nature sounds, or interactive sound panels that allow users to create sounds
• Textured surfaces, such as walls, mats and toys for tactile exploration
• Soft cushions and bean bags
• Bubble tubes and lava lamps
• Mirrors and reflective surfaces
• Olfactory stimuli such as aromatherapy or scented objects
• Swings or rocking chairs
• Weighted blankets or vests 
• Interactive elements such as touch panels, interactive walls or sensory tools (e.g., fidget spinners or stress balls)

Why they may work for the whole family

For our family, the stress of one member can catalyze the stress of the whole unit, and negativity breeds negativity. Sensory spaces help us all take a moment, and a few deep breaths, to remind ourselves that adventures and time together are valuable for our mental health and cultural understanding of the world around us.

They also serve as quiet places where anyone can reflect or escape the din of a crowded terminal or other venue. According to Chelsea Rodriguez, a volunteer and customer accessibility manager at the Seattle-Tacoma airport, “Having spaces like meditation and prayer rooms can be really beneficial to travelers … having a private space that is calming and built with intention can be very much appreciated.” Seattle-Tacoma International Airport offers an interfaith prayer and meditation space next to the sensory room in Concourse A. 

How to find sensory spaces

While there’s no official database of sensory spaces in a particular country or worldwide, there are likely thousands around the globe. And the trend is not expected to slow anytime soon, as schools—and even private homes—are adding them at a rapid clip in response to an increased focus on social-emotional learning that arose during the global pandemic. 

Finding a sensory space near your destination may take a bit of digging in available resources and local community networks such as:

• Google searches using search terms like “sensory room near me,” “sensory room for autism” or “sensory-friendly spaces near me” 
• Google Maps and directories
• Autism and sensory processing disorder organizations in a local area
• Sensory room providers, like Snoezelen and the Sensory Club
• Schools and educational centers, particularly those with special education programs
• Occupational therapy centers and hospitals, especially children’s hospitals
• Libraries and museums 
• Community centers
• Facebook groups and forums
• Local parenting groups, such as those focused on children with special needs