SDZWA: The Quiet Place: SDZWA Teams With KultureCity

San Diego CA

05 November, 2021

3:22 PM

Description

Press release from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: November 4, 2021 Loud noises, flickering lights, and lots of movement may sound like the ingredients for an exciting experience, but they can be debilitating for people with sensory sensitivities. The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park have recently become more sensory-friendly environments.  They are now officially Sensory Inclusive sites, certified by KultureCity, a nonprofit that advocates for people with sensory needs. "It was a multidepartment effort and wouldn't be possible without everyone's help and input," said San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's legal counsel Ron Santos, who led the project. KultureCity's sensory inclusion initiative works with zoos, aquariums, museums, and restaurants to better engage guests who might have sensory needs and or sensory processing issues. The organization has partnered with more than 800 locations across the US to create inclusive experiences, including more than 100 zoos and aquariums. On its website, KultureCity describes people with sensory needs as having silent disabilities.  This includes people with autism, PTSD, dementia, and strokes—who make up the one in six people living with disabilities in the US. More than 80 percent of these people have invisible disabilities such as PTSD and autism. Sensory processing disorders present themselves in varied ways. Affected guests may find noises, smells, lights, and crowds overwhelming from the sensory perspective—and sometimes even physically painful. The Sensory Inclusive program includes continuous training. To qualify, a minimum of 50 percent of an organization's staff undergo training, and the organization posts signs designating quiet zones. "Quiet zones are areas in the Safari Park and Zoo that have the least stimuli and would provide a guest the opportunity to decompress," said Ron. A certified Sensory Inclusive site is somewhat different from an environment that aims to be sensory-friendly, according to KultureCity. Sensory-friendly events are designed to have a manageable amount of sensory stimuli, which helps allow people with sensory processing issues to be calmer and better able to process the stimuli. A sensory-friendly organization might remove any potentially disturbing stimuli or designate days or hours for sensory-friendly events. In comparison, certified Sensory Inclusive sites—such as the Zoo and Safari Park—are accessible to all whenever they are open, by helping people cope with potential sensory overstimulation. The goal is to help all guests feel welcome and included, according to KultureCity. "Guests that have sensory needs or sensory processing issues will be better prepared to enjoy their visit," said Ron. This press release was produced by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. The views expressed here are the author's own.