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The Green Bay Packers often display signs urging the Lambeau Field crowd to get loud. Fans love it, but not all of the fans all of the time.
For neurodivergent, often younger fans, loud can be alarming, as can other things that assault the senses. The Packers, along with Ticketmaster, have help for that, the sensory activation vehicle. The 8-foot-by-16-foot portable room is designed as a sanctuary for people with sensory needs of all kinds, including visual, auditory, tactile, balance and movement and body awareness and deep-pressure elements. The inside is black all around, with seats and video screens that offer different sensory experiences.
The room will be staffed by trained Packers customer services staff, but also attended by volunteers from organizations that support neurodivergent individuals. During training camp, it is located in the Ray Nitschke Field parking lot. For games, it will be in the Lambeau Field concourse near the Oneida Nation gate.
Siraya Gloudemans, whose 12-year-old son is neurodivergent, said parents often have a checklist of things they can do to try to de-escalate a situation, but that sometimes doesn't work in a public space − the stands of a Packers game or the concourse, for instance − and is harder to do when people around them, meaning well, offer to help but really can't.
"This gives you a place to go to work through all of that," she said.
Tyler McCune, partnership activations coordinator for the Packers, has a 5-year-old son on the autism spectrum. He and his wife take their son to Family Nights, but if he develops a sensory overload, the only option sometimes is to take him home.
He said the sensory activation vehicle will give them a space to recalibrate his sensory condition and allow him to return to the game and build his own Packers memories.
"He's never been able to come to a game. Now he can come and make memories," McCune said. "We want everyone to be able to have Packers memories."
Keith Cronin, manager of customer services, said the SAV is open to anyone who needs it. If demand is too great in a given period, time in the room will be limited, but long enough to give parents or adults who need it a chance to navigate the situation.
"This new sensory space ensures that every individual and family can enjoy gamedays at Lambeau Field knowing they have a safe, quiet and supportive space to reset if the environment becomes overwhelming," Cronin said.
The Packers also offer sensory bags and noise-canceling headphones that can be checked out at Guest Services desks in the Atrium and in sections 109 and 353 of the stadium.
More: Packers training camp recap today, highlights from Day 2 in Green Bay
More: Former Packers running back Ahman Green reveals Parkinson's diagnosis
The SAV was designed in collaboration with KultureCity, a nonprofit that works on sensory availability and acceptance. It will be available for large events, such as concerts, in addition to football games.
The SAV will be at Lambeau Field for Family Night, beginning at 1 p.m. Aug. 7. Former Packers fullback Dexter McNabb will interact with fans from 4-6 p.m. McNabb also is the principal at Green Bay West High School and on the Packers board of directors.
Contact Richard Ryman at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @RichRymanPG and on Instagram at @rrymanPG.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Sensory activation vehicle will help neurodivergent Packers fans
Continue reading...
For neurodivergent, often younger fans, loud can be alarming, as can other things that assault the senses. The Packers, along with Ticketmaster, have help for that, the sensory activation vehicle. The 8-foot-by-16-foot portable room is designed as a sanctuary for people with sensory needs of all kinds, including visual, auditory, tactile, balance and movement and body awareness and deep-pressure elements. The inside is black all around, with seats and video screens that offer different sensory experiences.
The room will be staffed by trained Packers customer services staff, but also attended by volunteers from organizations that support neurodivergent individuals. During training camp, it is located in the Ray Nitschke Field parking lot. For games, it will be in the Lambeau Field concourse near the Oneida Nation gate.
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Siraya Gloudemans, whose 12-year-old son is neurodivergent, said parents often have a checklist of things they can do to try to de-escalate a situation, but that sometimes doesn't work in a public space − the stands of a Packers game or the concourse, for instance − and is harder to do when people around them, meaning well, offer to help but really can't.
"This gives you a place to go to work through all of that," she said.
Tyler McCune, partnership activations coordinator for the Packers, has a 5-year-old son on the autism spectrum. He and his wife take their son to Family Nights, but if he develops a sensory overload, the only option sometimes is to take him home.
He said the sensory activation vehicle will give them a space to recalibrate his sensory condition and allow him to return to the game and build his own Packers memories.
"He's never been able to come to a game. Now he can come and make memories," McCune said. "We want everyone to be able to have Packers memories."
Keith Cronin, manager of customer services, said the SAV is open to anyone who needs it. If demand is too great in a given period, time in the room will be limited, but long enough to give parents or adults who need it a chance to navigate the situation.
You must be registered for see images
"This new sensory space ensures that every individual and family can enjoy gamedays at Lambeau Field knowing they have a safe, quiet and supportive space to reset if the environment becomes overwhelming," Cronin said.
The Packers also offer sensory bags and noise-canceling headphones that can be checked out at Guest Services desks in the Atrium and in sections 109 and 353 of the stadium.
More: Packers training camp recap today, highlights from Day 2 in Green Bay
More: Former Packers running back Ahman Green reveals Parkinson's diagnosis
The SAV was designed in collaboration with KultureCity, a nonprofit that works on sensory availability and acceptance. It will be available for large events, such as concerts, in addition to football games.
The SAV will be at Lambeau Field for Family Night, beginning at 1 p.m. Aug. 7. Former Packers fullback Dexter McNabb will interact with fans from 4-6 p.m. McNabb also is the principal at Green Bay West High School and on the Packers board of directors.
Contact Richard Ryman at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @RichRymanPG and on Instagram at @rrymanPG.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Sensory activation vehicle will help neurodivergent Packers fans
Continue reading...
