UK. London Gatwick says it has become the first UK airport to open a dedicated sensory room for passengers.
The room offers a “relaxing, private and interactive” environment to calm people who may feel overwhelmed in busy and unfamiliar airport surroundings, according to Gatwick.
The new, free-to-use space in the North Terminal has been designed for passengers with autism, dementia, cognitive impairment or other special needs who would benefit from a place to help them feel at ease before their flight, the airport explained.
Inside the room are floor cushions, bean bags and digital display panels which generate colourful visual wall features. A separate ‘interactive zone’ aims to stimulate the senses through tactile panels, textures and a game to improve memory, motor skills and encourage learning.
The facility is available only to departing passengers and their families or carers. They can book a 45-minute session at the North Terminal’s special assistance desk after going through security.
The desk is part of a new airline lounge style area at Gatwick which opened earlier this year for passengers who require special assistance. It has capacity to seat up to 90 people.
“We recognise airports can be stressful environments for some passengers, which is why we are extremely proud to offer this new space for them to relax in and enjoy before their flight,” said London Gatwick Airport Head of Terminal Operations Andy Pule.
“Gatwick is committed to providing passengers who have a disability of any kind with the support and services required to ensure their time at the airport is as comfortable as possible and this remains a key area of focus for the airport.”
Gatwick consulted with the National Autistic Society in designing the new sensory room. The society’s Chief Executive Mark Lever said: “There are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK and they and their families want to access the same opportunities others often take for granted, and this includes holidays and travel. But many rely on routines to make sense of an often confusing world and can find the busy and unpredictable airport and flight environments distressing and disorientating.
“This is why we were delighted that London Gatwick, who achieved our prestigious Autism Friendly Award in 2016, have gone a step further and created a fantastic new sensory room for autistic travellers. A calming space like this can help autistic people to decompress and relax before departure, helping them to better manage their anxiety during the flight.”
London Gatwick Airport Autism Ambassador Maria Cook commented: “It is the most amazing sensory room I have ever seen. I cannot thank the whole team involved in this project enough for making it a reality. Working closely with Gatwick I explained the vast benefits of having such a wonderful facility available and the positive impact it has for people with complex conditions and their families. They did not hesitate to create something very special indeed.”
Ireland’s Shannon Airport opened a sensory room for children and adults with neuro-developmental challenges, including autism, in 2017 in what it said was a first for a European airport.
