Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida will become an ‘autism-friendly’ venue for this year’s edition of the NFL American football league’s Pro Bowl game.
Camping World Stadium will host the game on Sunday, and the NFL has moved to enhance the experience for young fans who have autism by offering a number of accessories.
Fans will be offered ‘sensory sacks’ that will include noise-cancelling headphones, stress-relief squeeze toys and identification stickers and badges to make other fans aware that may behave differently. Wristbands with seat numbers on them will also be provided should children become detached from their parents.
In addition, a ‘quiet room’ will be created to provide families with a cool-down zone should the game-day experience become too overwhelming for children. Stadium staff will receive special training on how to deal with autistic children.
“Our goal is to make the game as family-friendly as possible,” Anna Isaacson, the NFL’s senior vice-president of social responsibility, said, according to the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. “We want to see if this is something the fans take advantage of and, if so, whether we can extend it to the Super Bowl and perhaps share it with the rest of the league.”
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