B Y THEIR NATURE, sporting events tend to pack a wallop of sensory stimulation—the slap of pucks or thwack of racquets, exuberant crowds, blazing lights and the aroma of food that’s guzzled, crunched and slurped. As part of accessibility and inclusion efforts, sport venues around the globe are introducing initiatives to accommodate individuals who may struggle in sensory- laden environments. In Canada, for example, venues such as Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum and the Rogers Centre, and BC Place in Vancouver have permanent quiet rooms, sensory kits and assistance available. Want to create a more neuro inclusive environment at your events? We asked Canadian experts to weigh in on concepts, challenges and advice for sport organizations: Learn about neurodiversity Virginie Cobigo, executive director of Open Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility and an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, says, “The first point is education about what neurodiversity is.” While many simply associate the term with autism, Cobigo says, “Neurodiversity is about the reality, the fact that our brains present information very differently.” Sporting events, she says, typically present challenges for neurodiverse individuals in several ways. “It’s not just about an individual who’s going to have difficulties processing all the information and needs a quiet place,” it’s that tasks like navigating a new city or venue also add to cognitive load. Appreciate the prevalence Bottom line for sport organizations is neurodiversity affects more of your people— coaches, athletes, staff—than you might think. “One of the most important things I’ll say, is that experience of the world feeling too busy, too noisy, too bright, is shared by an incredible number of people,” says Christel Seeberger, founder and CEO of New Brunswick-based Sensory Friendly Solutions. Research backs this up. The US-based National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates 15-20% of the world’s population has some form of neurodivergence. Encouragingly, organizations that develop accommodations for neurodiverse individuals (like quiet spaces) get praise from the broader community. Seeberger says, “You’re doing things that help so many more people than you can imagine. It’s the grandparents coming to the game with some hearing loss, as well as the parent who’s a veteran with PTSD.” TIPS FOR CREATING NEURO INCLUSIVE SPACES Solicit Input When considering how to accommodate this demographic at your events, experts suggest starting by understanding needs: Consult broadly: Seeberger advises talking to a variety of stakeholders, from athletes, parents, spectators and staff to volunteers in the stands. “Boy, do they ever know lots of things,” Seeberger says, adding: “Talk to folks with the lived experience of neurodivergence in your community.” Ask about barriers: Cobigo says this is critical “to explore with persons who are experiencing the barriers. What are these barriers and what are the solutions they suggest?” She adds that it’s generally helpful to focus on functional definitions versus medical terminology. For example, rather than asking someone to reveal a diagnosis, ask what accommodations could help them participate more fully. Consider the end-to-end experience: While it’s natural to focus on your event, Cobigo says, “The starting point is not when they enter the venue, it’s when they register… It’s thinking about that whole journey, to make the whole thing more accessible.” Seek out qualified partners: Whether you’re soliciting input via registrations or consultation, Cobigo says this is a new area for many groups and it can be worth “partnering with organizations [with] experience in organizing accessible events.” VENUES BY CONNIE JESKE CRANE Rogers Centre Toronto sensory room PHOTOS: TORONTO BLUE JAYS; NIAGARA FALLS CONVENTION CENTRE; CB NUIT/KELSEY STREET; BC PLACE VANCOUVER 28 ADRENALIN | SPRING 2025 ADRENALINMAG.CA
