Sensory friendly refers to a designed environment which is an accommodation for people who have a sensory dysfunction or a sensory processing disorder. There are sensory friendly experiences which are offered by businesses and there is also sensory friendly furniture.
Adults and children who report a sensory dysfunction or a sensory-integration disturbance often also present with a learning disability. A sensory friendly environment is created to assist those with a sensory processing disorder (SPD). The disorder is characterized by a hypersensitivity to stimuli accompanied by anxiety. [1] The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation believes that there may be as many as one in every 20 people living with a sensory processing disorder. [2] Sources debate whether SPD is an independent disorder or represents the observed symptoms of various other, more well-established, disorders. [3] [4] [5] [6] SPD is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association, [7] [8] and the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended in 2012 that pediatricians not use SPD as a stand-alone diagnosis. [7]
Autistic people often experience sensory overload when they are in their communities. To accommodate those with these specific disabilities, some businesses offer sensory friendly hours for shopping, eating or attending community events. [9]
For adults with autism, modification of the workplace environment includes softened lighting, reduced noise and partitions around work areas. [10]
Sensory challenges are often experienced by people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dementia. Sensory friendly areas of venues might include noise-cancelling headphones or quieter areas where guests can relax. [11] [12]
Some theaters offer sensory friendly film showings. For this type of showing, the sound is turned down, and the lights inside the theater are brighter. [13] The theaters also allow attendees to move around during the presentation, and even converse with the screen. The diminished stimulation is considered sensory friendly. [14] [15]
The Betty Brinn Children's Museum sells a Sensory-Friendly Play Pass to accommodate children who are in need of a calmer, quieter space. [16] The Marbles Kids Museum hosts an event for families to experience Marbles in a calmer, quieter environment, which is considered sensory friendly playtime. They call it "Lights Up, Sound Down". [17]
The Target Corporation tailored furniture that they sell to what they called sensory-friendly designs. They also advertise weighted blankets which they say are "calming". [18] In June of 2022 the Milwaukee Brewers major league baseball team announced that they would designate a quiet area at American Family Field with sensory bags to accommodate those with sensory processing disorders. They stated that they would have "sensory bags" which will contain noise-cancelling headphones, a fidget toy, verbal cue cards and a weighted lap pad. [2]
KultureCity is a nonprofit organization which provides training, and certification for venues and events to accommodate those with sensory sensitivities. The organization also provides a software application for Apple and Android devices which lists sensory friendly venues. The application also lists sensory inclusive modifications. [13] Their motto is: "Make the nevers possible by creating sensory accessibility and inclusion for those with invisible disabilities". [19]
Another organization which provides sensory friendly kits, tools and suggestions to transform any space into a sensory inclusive space is Sensory City. The organization also provides a sensory friendly certificate to businesses. [20]
Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's syndrome or Asperger's, is a diagnosis formerly used to describe a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. Asperger syndrome has been merged with other conditions into autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is no longer considered a separate diagnosis by the WHO's ICD-11 or the APA's DSM-5-TR. It was considered milder than other diagnoses which were merged into ASD due to relatively unimpaired spoken language and intelligence.
Developmental disorders comprise a group of psychiatric conditions originating in childhood that involve serious impairment in different areas. There are several ways of using this term. The most narrow concept is used in the category "Specific Disorders of Psychological Development" in the ICD-10. These disorders comprise developmental language disorder, learning disorders, developmental coordination disorders, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In broader definitions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is included, and the term used is neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet others include antisocial behavior and schizophrenia that begins in childhood and continues through life. However, these two latter conditions are not as stable as the other developmental disorders, and there is not the same evidence of a shared genetic liability.
Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), also known as Heller's syndrome and disintegrative psychosis, is a rare condition characterized by late onset of developmental delays—or severe and sudden reversals—in language, social engagement, bowel and bladder, play and motor skills. Researchers have not been successful in finding a cause for the disorder. CDD has some similarities to autism and is sometimes considered a low-functioning form of it. In May 2013, CDD, along with other sub-types of PDD, was fused into a single diagnostic term called "autism spectrum disorder" under the new DSM-5 manual.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in early childhood, persists throughout adulthood, and affects any person in this way: social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. There are many conditions comorbid to autism spectrum disorder, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, and epilepsy.
High-functioning autism (HFA) was historically an autism classification to describe a person who exhibited no intellectual disability but otherwise showed autistic traits, such as difficulty in social interaction and communication, as well as repetitive, restricted patterns of behavior. The term is often applied to autistic people who are fluently verbal and of at least average intelligence. However, many in medical and autistic communities have called to stop using the term, finding it simplistic and unindicative of the difficulties some autistic people face.
A hug machine, also known as a hug box, a squeeze machine, or a squeeze box, is a therapeutic device designed to calm hypersensitive persons, usually individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The device was invented by Temple Grandin to administer deep-touch pressure, a type of physical stimulation often self-administered by autistic individuals as a means of self-soothing.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to autism:
Sensory overload occurs when one or more of the body's senses experiences over-stimulation from the environment.
Autism therapies include a wide variety of therapies that help people with autism, or their families. Such methods of therapy seek to aid autistic people in dealing with difficulties and increase their functional independence.
An autism assistance dog or autism service dog is an assistance dog trained to assist an autistic person manage their disability and live more independently.
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD), also known as developmental motor coordination disorder, developmental dyspraxia or simply dyspraxia, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired coordination of physical movements as a result of brain messages not being accurately transmitted to the body. Deficits in fine or gross motor skills movements interfere with activities of daily living. It is often described as disorder in skill acquisition, where the learning and execution of coordinated motor skills is substantially below that expected given the individual's chronological age. Difficulties may present as clumsiness, slowness and inaccuracy of performance of motor skills. It is often accompanied by difficulty with organisation and/or problems with attention, working memory and time management.
The floortime or Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based (DIR) model is a developmental model for assessing and understanding any child's strengths and weaknesses. This model was developed by Stanley Greenspan and first outlined in 1979 in his book Intelligence and Adaptation.
Sensory integration therapy (SIT) was originally developed by occupational therapist A. Jean Ayres in the 1970s to help children with sensory-processing difficulties. It was specifically designed to treat Sensory Processing Disorder. Sensory Integration Therapy is based on A. Jean Ayres's Sensory Integration Theory, which proposes that sensory-processing is linked to emotional regulation, learning, behavior, and participation in daily life. Sensory integration is the process of organizing sensations from the body and environmental stimuli.
Classic autism, also known as childhood autism, autistic disorder, (early) infantile autism, infantile psychosis, Kanner's autism, Kanner's syndrome, or (formerly) just autism, is a neurodevelopmental condition first described by Leo Kanner in 1943. It is characterized by atypical and impaired development in social interaction and communication as well as restricted, repetitive behaviors, activities, and interests. These symptoms first appear in early childhood and persist throughout life.
Doing business as STAR Institute the STAR Center Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization dedicated to treatment, research and education related to sensory integration and processing.
Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive, restricted, and inflexible patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as well as persistent deficits in social communication and interaction. Autism generally affects a person's ability to understand and connect with others, as well as their adaptability to everyday situations, with its severity and support needs varying widely across the underlying spectrum. For example, some are nonverbal, while others have proficient spoken language.
A sensory room is a special room designed to develop a person's sense, usually through special lighting, music, and objects. It can be used as a therapy for children with limited communication skills.
Autism-friendly means being aware of social engagement and environmental factors affecting people on the autism spectrum, with modifications to communication methods and physical space to better suit individuals' unique and special needs.
Sensory processing disorder is a condition in which multisensory input is not adequately processed in order to provide appropriate responses to the demands of the environment. Sensory processing disorder is present in many people with dyspraxia, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Individuals with SPD may inadequately process visual, auditory, olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), tactile (touch), vestibular (balance), proprioception, and interoception sensory stimuli.
KultureCity is a nonprofit organization which trains staff at venues and then certifies venues which have sensory inclusive modifications. The organization also provides application for Apple and Android devices which lists sensory friendly venues to assist those with sensory processing disorders.