Featured Image Credit: Audubon Nature Institue Facebook
By Emily Persico
Last week, the Audubon Aquarium of New Orleans became the first aquarium ever in the United States to be certified sensory inclusive. The aquarium – along with the associated Audubon Zoo – earned this designation with the help of nonprofit KultureCity and Tiki Barber, a Former NFL Pro Bowl Running Back.
So, what is sensory inclusive exactly? Sensory inclusive environments allow people with specific sensory needs (like people with autism or PTSD) to experience spaces that are otherwise overwhelming and off-limits. To make spaces inclusive, zoos, stadiums and the like are training staff and stocking up on equipment to make everyone feel safe and included. KultureCity has spearheaded this movement, certifying 40 to 50 attractions thus far, with another 25 to 30 slated to be certified by next month—including the New England Aquarium!
The Audubon Aquarium’s commitment to a sensory inclusive environment takes the form of noise-cancelling headphones, quiet spaces, a reading corner, and six sensory stations. The Aquarium encourages families with sensory needs to come during “Sensory Sundays,” the next of which will occur on March 18th.
While KultureCity is on a sensory inclusive rampage across the United States, the certification at Audubon Aquarium would not have been possible without Tiki Barber’s help. When his godson was diagnosed with autism five years ago, the former running back immediately got to work in helping families dealing with autism.
“What this sensory inclusive initiative does is makes all spaces comfortable so there is an understanding that this isn’t you being a bad parent, this is an issue that we know how to deal with and we are going to make you as comfortable as possible,” Baker said.
Thanks to this three-way partnership, families visiting this New Orleans aquarium will certainly be comfortable. And, if New Orleans is a bit too far away, the New England Aquarium will soon pose another option.
To read more about inclusive design, read this article from the Autism Awareness Centre.