“I’m happy to be here,” said Paul, a 17-year-old autistic adolescent, France Inter reported.
Paris Basketball is the only French club to equip its venue with a hyposensory room located adjacent to the courts at the Adidas Arena in the Porte de la Chapelle district of Paris, France Inter reported.
The facility allows children with autism spectrum disorders to watch basketball matches in an environment tailored to their sensory needs, according to France Inter. Although Paul uses a hearing aid, the arena experience can still prove intense.
Bright lights and large crowds make a calmer environment necessary for some attendees. His father accompanied him to the dedicated space located behind the stands, which features enveloping sofas facing a large screen in subdued lighting.
“There is a retreat tent, which is a tent where children can go to calm down,” Méline Marchina, head of the Paris Basketball Foundation, told France Inter.
“There are games, anti-stress balls, coloring books, a whole bunch of things we bought to make this place welcoming,” Marchina said.
The initiative helps families attending games. Thomas, Paul’s father, spoke about the impact of the room.
“There are forms of autism where children are in distress and may have difficulty staying calm,” Thomas told France Inter. “Typically, this kind of environment also makes it possible to reassure parents and to say to themselves that the child is going to be well, that everyone is going to be well and that it’s going to be a great time.”
The sensory room remains accessible during every home match. Educators and psychologists are present during ten fixtures across the season, France Inter reported.
Worth a look
