Beyond Quiet Rooms: Why Sensory Inclusion Requires More Than Single-Sense Solutions
Often overlooked, no longer optional.
Editor’s note: This essay is part of the Beyond Quiet Rooms series, which examines why single-solution approaches to sensory inclusion fall short and what systems-level thinking can offer instead.
For someone who is a self described ‘un-foodie’, I’ve realized I’ve been using food-based metaphors a lot more often lately.
But they resonate, so why re-invent the (cheese) wheel?
If you are of a certain ‘vintage’, you will likely remember a time when ‘gluten free’ was an intriguing new buzz-word.
People with dietary restrictions would have to ‘bring their own’ food, because they couldn’t count on events having anything other than “Meat ‘N’ Sweets”.
As an Autistic person, I am no stranger to bringing my own food to places. I’m not gluten intolerant, but I am a picky eater.
It struck me recently how much the dietary restrictions issue has changed.
At this point ‘gluten free’ is no longer a buzzword - it’s a fixture now. Along with alternatives like soy milk, plant-based meat alternatives, and even compostable utensils. These are all examples of better options that were advocated for, and they’ve now become the standard in a lot more cases.
Pin that thought.
I still remember the first time I tried a ‘beyond meat’ burger. It wasn’t the best thing I’d ever tasted, and it also wasn’t even close to the worst. They’ve grown on me. If they weren’t so expensive, I’d honestly eat them more.
I bring this up to contextualize what this article is about.
I believe that the place celiac sufferers were at with food options at events 20 odd years ago is where people with sensory issues are at now.
The occasional option of a sensory relief space now is the occasional option of a gluten free muffin or sandwich then.
Sensory relief rooms are absolutely a positive step, but like the early gluten-free options they often shift responsibility away from the ‘main menu’ instead of changing the core recipe of the event.
And like how the gluten free options could vary from a single meagre snack to a more substantial sandwich, sensory relief spaces can also vary significantly. I’ve seen no less than half a dozen different organizations/events doing them differently, each with different takes.
From as bare bones as literally just being a separate, empty ‘quiet’ room, to spaces like what I strive to provide - quiet, gentle lighting, comfortable seating, stim/fidget toys, arts and crafts, and optional gentle facilitation.
Sensory relief provided and facilitated by someone who gets it.
By sensitive people, for all people.
Gluten causes inflammation in celiac sufferers, and overwhelm causes ‘sensory inflammation’ to neurodivergent folks (and not only them!). Both are invisible triggers that create discomfort until environments adapt.
When our senses get overwhelmed, our brains start buffering worse than Netflix on 3G internet. Relief spaces (while helpful) mainly just pause the buffering rather than preventing it. When the time comes to ‘dive back in’ to the main event, you’re just unpausing. Imagine going from a cold pool to a warm jacuzzi for a few minutes, and then getting sprayed with a fire hose.
Sensory break spaces are just one smaller piece of the larger puzzle - and they’re a band-aid. Again, it’s definitely better that they exist than not, but I believe we can do better.
In my mind - a reality truly worth ecstatically cheering about would be a world where sensory relief spaces are far less necessary, because people can be present in the primary event experience and not be drastically overstimulated in the first place.
I started doing the work I do because I really feel like sensory is still an afterthought (if considered at all) in most cases. It’s getting a little better, but I want more than just a gluten free muffin and I want that for you too.
To be able to go to an event and not need earplugs.
To not need tinted or blue light filtering glasses.
To not need to take a break to a different space for padded chairs.
To not need a ramp because there are no steps.
To not need a mask because there is good ventilation/air flow.
I recognize that what I’m talking about is a ‘big picture’, cultural shift to a new norm. It’s not something by any means that I expect overnight or even within a few years.
Right now, inclusion advocates are in an early-stage dance with the established, existing systems and structures.
Progress is happening and that is of course a very positive thing. Progress tends to be small, slow, and incremental, but ultimately lasting.
But the more I think about this and the more I dig into this work and gather data, the more I’ve reinforced my deep-down hope and goal for more than muffins. We should have the whole buffet and it shouldn’t be a firehose.
Eventually, it will just be better for everyone.
In every sense, by default.
As I’ve already talked about before, sensory struggles are not limited to neurodivergent people. It’s definitely true that just having the option there will plant a seed in people’s minds. Maybe most people won’t try it today, or next month. Maybe not even next year. But once the option is there, it starts to pick up steam. It becomes normalized. That’s what we need.
It Takes Two To Tango
I was recently asked by a peer “what does your ideal customer want?’
My initial response (thinking of event organizers as my prime customers) was ‘to make more money while changing as little as possible!’
It was cheeky, but also not entirely wrong.
But then I got the chance to ask an industry veteran that question. Her response was: ‘A clear business objective, and a clearly defined budget’
I’ve been having conversations with event organizations like ILEA (International Live Events Association) and SITE (Society for Incentive Travel Excellence), and am pleased to hear that the sensory aspect is on their radar.
The struggle for them is (and this is good news for people like me) that they aren’t entirely sure how best to address the issue right now, beyond the sensory break rooms.
And this is ultimately where my SOLACE Model and Framework (TM) comes in.
The model is designed to consider all the relevant factors of guest comfort (sensory, climate, physical access, and comfort), to give them a score, and provide actionable insights on how to make things better without breaking the budget.
Comfort isn’t limited to social events. That has just been my primary focus because that’s where I see it as the biggest issue and most limiting to people.
Conveniently, the SOLACE Model is applicable across sectors - it is intended to apply to any ‘shared space’.
More recently I also developed a sister framework (BUILDERS (TM)) which also factors in guest comfort from factors that are not sensory, but still important. I like it because it’s less vague than DEI, and speaks to ‘building towards a more inclusive future’.
For example, the ‘D’ in BUILDERS stands for ‘Dietary Restrictions + Sobriety’, because my survey response data has pointed out that issue and helped put it on my radar. That in turn helped inspire this reflection.
As I move forward I will continue to encourage the sensory break rooms because they are certainly better to have than not. But I am clear and focused in my true goal - building towards a world where shared spaces are inherently more sensory-friendly in the first place.
The spaces where we are meant to connect, and engage in leisure, should not be spaces we have to retreat from due to overwhelm.
I want to help make ‘quiet rooms’ the ‘gluten free’ of the event guest comfort lunch spread. One of many inclusive options that is just standard now, instead of a tack-on.
This is a big conversation and an ongoing mission. We’re learning as we go, and I’m excited and proud to be part of this brewing revolution.
What small change have you seen (or made) that helped a space feel better? I’m collecting stories of sensory wins (big and small) and I would love to hear yours.
Lacey Artemis (she/they) is a neurodivergent researcher, speaker, and consultant focused on systems-level sensory inclusion and design. She is the founder of Neuromix Consulting, where her applied research and advisory work supports more comfortable, accessible public spaces.
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