Saint Louis Aquarium To Be Sensory Inclusive

ST. LOUIS, MO — When completed, the new St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station will be the first aquarium in the world built with sensory inclusive considerations, its builders say. The aquarium's staff will be trained by medical professionals on how to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to appropriately handle a sensory overload situation, officials said. Before it opens in 2019, the aquarium will receive a sensory certification from KultureCity, an advocacy group for people with autism.

"To meet our goal of making the new aquarium a great destination for everyone, we’ve taken several elements into consideration," said Steve O’Loughlin, President of Lodging Hospitality Management, the developers behind the city’s first full-scale aquarium. "Our team will receive extensive training on how to recognize sensory issues as they are developing, and the facility is currently being constructed with a purpose-built sensory room for individuals and families who may need a quieter and more secure environment. We also will have items available for guests who may feel overwhelmed in this stimulating environment. Some examples are noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads."

People with autism, dementia, PTSD and other conditions often experience sensory overload and may react to harsh light, sound or other sensations. Overstimulation and noise can be an an enormous challenge at an environment like a public aquarium, the developers say. But with its new certification, the St. Louis Aquarium will be better prepared to assist guests with sensory sensitivities and ensure that they have a comfortable experience.

“The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station will be the first aquarium in the process of being built that will be designed with sensory inclusion in mind," said said KultureCity founder Julian Maha. "KultureCity is proud to work with the St Louis Aquarium to bring this amazing initiative to the state of Missouri."

Aquarium rendering courtesy of PGAV Destinations