Theme parks may be a lot of fun for children, which can sometimes get too overwhelming for those who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A theme park in Tennessee came up with an area to soothe the park goers with autism fby allowing them to have a place to relax and enjoy their stay.
Dollywood, a theme park which was founded by Dolly Pacton from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee managed to gather gratitude from parents who has children with autism. Dollywood is said to be the first amusement park in the United States to have a sensory room.
It was mentioned that the room is equipped with tents, comfy chairs and other sensory items including strings of fiber-optic lights. Jamie Pacton, a writer from Parents, describes the room as calming, wherein the park goers can bring in their child with autism to relax and unwind.
Pacton then noted that Dollywood's sensory room made a huge impact on their quality time as a family. Stating that she has a child who was diagnosed with autis and the sensory room made their trip to the Dollywood more relaxing as she can easily calm her son down through the sensory room when he gets too overwhelmed with his surroundings.
She then added that they would need to look for a calming place for their son with autism. Parcon noted that she would usually take her son to under a tree when they're in a park, or take him to a corner stall in a bathroom which can be uncomfortable for both of them, thus she is grateful for Dollywood's sensory room.
Aside from Dollywood, who is tagged as the first amusement park to have a sensory room for children with autism, Parent Herald previously featured a mall that implemented a "Quiet Hour" for shoppers with autism.
