The best sensory-friendly spaces in Melbourne
Supermarkets, museums, sporting clubs and stadiums from Malvern to Myrtleford are changing the way they do business to be more inclusive of people with autism. Here are some of the inclusive spaces across Melbourne.
Lifestyle
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Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, perhaps the most famous person on the planet right now with Asperger’s, is proof-positive that autistic people offer unique perspectives and can effect meaningful change, if they’re just included.
That inclusion is happening across Victoria, with a growing number of autism-friendly spaces and programs being created for the 55,000 Victorians — including an estimated 30,000 under 18 — with an autism spectrum disorder, a group of conditions that includes autistic disorder and Asperger’s.
Supermarkets, museums, sporting clubs and stadiums from Malvern to Myrtleford are changing the way they do business to be more inclusive of autistic people, who often have difficulty with social interactions and repetitive patterns of behaviour, as well as sensory sensitivity such as an acute awareness of light, sound, texture, touch, taste or smell.
Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths now have “Quiet Hour” shopping to help with such sensory sensitivity and several major sporting clubs, as well as Marvel Stadium and the Australian Open, provide sensory rooms so autistic fans can enjoy watching their heroes in an environment tailored to them.
Around this time of year, many shopping centres such a Chadstone and Northland and Westfield outlets offer Sensitive Santa sessions, which take place after hours with subdued lighting, no crowds and no background music.
Northland also has a quiet room as well as Sensory Shopping Mornings without the usual hustle and bustle.
Three of Victoria’s most popular educational attractions, Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks and the Immigration Museum, have been autism friendly for a number of years, providing “social scripts”, which show visitors and their carers what they’ll encounter during a visit,
and maps that show high and low-sensory areas to make family and school trips less stressful.
Fiona Sharkie, chief executive of Amaze, the peak body for autistic people and their supporters in Victoria, says with autistic people experiencing high levels of stigma and isolation, the initiatives can be life-changing.
“Research shows 52 per cent of autistic people feel socially isolated, with 40 per cent sometimes unable to leave their home because of judgment from others and a lack of support or adjustment to their needs. This is really concerning because social isolation has a strong link with poor mental and physical health,” Sharkie says.
This means autism-friendly spaces are a practical way to enable autistic people to engage with the community. But she says they also act as a signal to the autism community “that they are welcome in that place, that they are safe to be themselves and to show autistic behaviours”.
Another benefit is the spaces help the wider community understand more about autism.
“We know 98 per cent of Australians have heard of autism, but only 29 per cent know how to support an autistic person. Better support starts with greater understanding. By talking about and creating autism-friendly public spaces, people can begin to see and understand the lived experiences of autistic people,” Sharkie says.
Someone who has insight into that lived experience is Healesville resident David Brinkley, a primary-school teacher’s aide. The 50-year-old, who has worked with many autistic children and has family members with autism spectrum disorders, is passionate about inclusion.
It was a Facebook message Brinkley sent to Coles in early 2017 that led to the introduction of Quiet Hour sessions, which are now commonplace in supermarkets across the country.
“I knew through my experience with autistic kids just how challenging supermarket shopping can be, with bright lights, blaring music and other things that can lead to sensory overload,” Brinkley says.
“It occurred to me it would be great if all those things could be reduced, so parents could take their autistic kids shopping if they wanted to. I suggested offering a quieter and less stimulating environment and Coles really ran with it.”
In August 2017, Coles ran a trial and now Quiet Hour runs every Tuesday from 10.30-11.30am at 69 Coles stores across Victoria. During this time, lighting in the store is reduced, the volume on registers and scanners is lowered, there’s no music played and specially trained staff are available to help shoppers.
Woolworths this year followed suit and also offers Quiet Hour shopping at the same time
on Tuesdays at 65 of its Victorian stores.
Brinkley is thrilled the concept has taken off.
“It’s been brilliant to see how popular it’s become, not only because it makes shopping accessible, but it’s also raising awareness of autism in the community and removing the stigma.”
It shouldn’t be “a big deal” for society to accommodate people with autism or other disabilities, he says.
“With just minor changes, we can easily integrate people fully. It’s about normalising certain things and showing autistic people can absolutely contribute to society in a meaningful way,” says Brinkley, who is now in talks with a department store to roll out a similar program.
But it’s not just autistic people who benefit from a less chaotic grocery shop. Another Healesville resident, Gina Rocco, occasionally takes her 17-year-old son Michael, who has Down syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), to her local Coles, where she also works part-time, during Quiet Hour. “When Michael was younger, I used to take him shopping with me, but it was very, very difficult. Having Quiet Hour means it’s now easier if I need to have him with me,” Rocco says.
“It’s been the best thing for lots of different people. Many people who just happen to end up doing their shopping then comment about how lovely the environment is.”
Live sport is also now more accessible in Victoria, with AFL clubs Hawthorn, St Kilda and Geelong and Super Netball franchise the Melbourne Vixens offering autism-friendly spaces to fans during home games.
There is also a permanent sensory room at Marvel Stadium, launched in August by Melbourne-based NBA star Joe Ingles and his elite netballer wife Renae Ingles, who have a son, Jacob, with autism. And there are plans for one at next year’s Australian Open tennis.
While they all differ, the spaces cater to those with sensory sensitivities by incorporating calming and stimulating zones and a way to watch the sporting action live, away from the chaos of the playing arena, often on TV screens, with low volume.
St Kilda worked with Amaze to set up its Chill Out Zone at Marvel Stadium, which it unveiled in January, and Hawthorn launched its room, the first at the MCG, in March.
The Hawks’ room features sensory lighting and visual displays, a cocoon area for relaxing, bean bags, air cushion, cuddle ball and comfortable seating, as well as activities such
as colouring and putty. Visitors can watch the game on a separate large screen and TV screens with reduced noise.
Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves says 350 people used the space across five games.
“Footy fans with sensory needs and their families may have previously stayed home to avoid overstimulation at the game due to loud noises and crowded areas. Now they and their families can come and support their team in a space that caters to their sensory needs,” Reeves says.
The club will offer the room at every home game in 2020 and has plans to establish one at UTAS Stadium in Tasmania, where the club also plays.
The AFL hopes all clubs will provide calming rooms by 2022, but Amaze boss Sharkie hopes it’s sooner, describing such facilities as the “ramps and rails” autistic people and others with non-physical disabilities need.
The Vixens, part of the Super Netball league in which Renae Ingles played this season, opened its sensory room at Melbourne Arena as part of its “autism awareness match” in July.
Separated from the playing arena by glass, the room includes activities like Lego, books and colouring, as well as bean bags, sensory toys and headphones to block out noise.
Sharkie says Amaze is “really excited” that Tennis Australia will also have autism-friendly spaces at the 2020 Australian Open.
“These spaces work for hundreds, if not thousands, of sports fans. We’d love to see autism-friendly spaces created at all major sporting venues across Australia,” she says.
Rather than provide specific spaces or programs, Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks and the Immigration Museum have created an autism-friendly environment.
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Adrienne Leith, the museums’ senior programs officer, explains this is done through a combination of public information, such as providing “social stories” that can be downloaded before visiting, support services and staff training.
“Written for children in consultation with Amaze, the social stories have photographs to show children what they’ll encounter during a visit,” Leith says.
And because museums can be a confronting place for sensitive visitors, a map of high and low-sensory spaces is provided online, so families know where they can head for some quiet time and also prepare for the busier areas.
Staff training is also an important component of inclusion, Leith says.
“Providing specific training to our staff means if there is an issue at the museum, there will be an understanding, rather than a damning response, which can help de-escalate that sort of situation.
“It’s not about providing a specific program or event for one group of people, it’s about understanding how to make spaces more inclusive for more people, all of the time.”
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