NBA Fine-Tunes to Make a Sensory-Inclusive Experience

Recently, brands have begun to reassess their products or services to promote acceptance and inclusion – creating accessible card games for colorblind players and supporting rock climbing para-athletes. The National Autistic Society even used VR to show individuals how chaotic a simple shopping experience can be for children with autism, inspiring empathy and understanding from shoppers. Now, as more companies focus on inclusivity, the NBA is acknowledging its autistic fans – evolving empathy into action.

When the NBA’s flagship store in New York City opened on World Autism Awareness Day, it became the first sensory-inclusive retail store in the world. Lights, noise, and crowds are certainly part of the NBA atmosphere, but can also overstimulate those with autism or other sensory processing disorders –  sometimes resulting in a panic attack. The NBA Store has partnered with KultureCity, a nonprofit which works to make public spaces sensory-inclusive, offering “sensory bags” with noise-canceling headphones, fidget spinners and weighted lap bands to make fans with sensory issues more comfortable. Additional efforts include extra exits which can be used by overwhelmed shoppers to escape the noise. Most importantly, the NBA Store staff has been trained to better understand, interact and identify, visitors with sensory sensitivities. 

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