Gatwick has become the first UK airport to open a sensory room where passengers with autism or special needs can feel at ease before their flight.
The calming space in the North Terminal is free to use for adults or children with disabilities and carers who will need to book a 45-minute session at the special assistance desk after they have gone through security. The desk is in a new lounge area designated for passengers who need special assistance.
Individual controls take the sensory room from a calm and relaxed environment to a stimulating and interactive space with a range of coloured light activities to occupy and entertain passengers.
Gatwick Airport has an autism ambassador, Maria Cook, who said: “For someone with autism or a learning difficulty, their carers and accompanying family, having somewhere like this to explore and reduce anxieties before boarding a flight is so important. It could very well make the difference between someone actually getting on the plane or not at all because it has become too stressful.”
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