ECU Athletics and College of Health and Human Performance partner for sensory room
In partnership with the East Carolina University College of Health and Human Performance (HHP), ECU Athletics will unveil a sensory inclusive space in Minges Coliseum on Sunday at the men’s basketball game against Cincinnati at noon.
PeeDee’s Sensory Room is the first of its kind at an ECU athletic venue and is part of a long-range sensory inclusion project.
Sunday marks the fifth annual Aces for Autism game, and the first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive T-shirts sponsored by Aces for Autism, Pirate Club and ECU Athletics. In addition, the team will wear Adidas jerseys with the Aces for Autism puzzle piece symbol.
The space at Minges Coliseum is in the Developmental Motor Lab in Room 100 and includes an interactive sensory unit, soft gym mats, bean bag chairs and bins of sensory toys for a variety of ages. More equipment and sensory-friendly bags that attendees can take to their seats and return will be purchased soon. With the purchase of mobile sensory trailers for children, adults and veterans who experience sensory overload, we can expand this effort to attendees at other athletic events and beyond. Financial support for this project is vital and anyone interested in supporting the project can reach out to ECU Athletics or the ECU University Advancement Office.
ECU Athletics Director Jon Gilbert and his staff collaborated with faculty associated with the Design for Disability Initiative housed in HHP to provide for attendees who are experiencing sensory overload a place to calm so they may successfully return to the athletic event. Collaborators across campus and in the community have joined together with HHP and Athletics to make this sensory inclusion project (i.e. Aces for Autism, the Autism Society, The Innovative Design Lab in the Honors College, Best Buddies, KultureCity).
“We are grateful to Chancellor Ron Michelson, faculty and staff in the College of Health and Human Performance who helped make this a reality,” Gilbert said. “This is an exciting project and a major addition to our fan experience as we ensure that everyone attending ECU athletics events feel included, supported and welcome. We are committed to making sure every guest or fan that visits our athletic venues has a comfortable and calming experience and will work to have a mobile space at our home football games in 2020.”
“PeeDee’s Sensory Room will give people who experience sensory overload at our ECU athletic events a place to relax and regroup so they may return to the game with their friends and families,” said Dr. Jennifer Hodgson, director of the medical family therapy doctoral program at ECU. “It will be staffed with caring, compassionate volunteers from the College of Health and Human Performance, Aces for Autism, the Autism Society, Best Buddies and across our campus community. Our hope is that this sensory space will encourage more families from our community to attend ECU athletic events together and see ECU as an inclusive, welcoming place for everyone.”
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