ECU Athletics, HHP Partner To Unveil Sensory Room
February 13, 2020 | General
GREENVILLE, N.C. - In partnership with the East Carolina University College of Health and Human Performance (HHP), ECU Athletics will unveil a sensory inclusive space in Minges Coliseum on Sunday at the men's basketball game against Cincinnati at noon.
PeeDee's Sensory Room is the first of its kind at an ECU athletic venue and is part of a long-range Sensory Inclusion Project.
Sunday marks the fifth annual Aces for Autism game and the first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive t-shirts sponsored by Aces for Autism, Pirate Club and ECU Athletics. In addition, the team will wear Adidas jerseys with the Aces for Autism puzzle piece symbol.
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The space at Minges Coliseum is in the Developmental Motor Lab in Room 100 and includes an interactive sensory unit, soft gym mats, bean bag chairs, and bins of sensory toys for a variety of ages. More equipment and sensory-friendly bags that attendees can take to their seats and return will be purchased soon. With the purchase of mobile sensory trailers for children, adults, and veterans who experience sensory overload, we can expand this effort to attendees at other athletic events and beyond. Financial support for this project is vital and anyone interested in supporting the project can reach out to ECU Athletics or the ECU University Advancement Office.
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ECU Athletics Director Jon Gilbert and his staff collaborated with faculty associated with the Design for Disability Initiative housed in the College of Health and Human Performance (HHP) to provide a space for attendees who are experiencing sensory overload a place to calm so they may successfully return to the athletic event. Collaborators across campus and in the community have joined together with HHP and Athletics to help make this Sensory Inclusion Project a success (i.e., Aces for Autism, the Autism Society, The Innovation Design Lab in the Honors College, Best Buddies, KultureCity).
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"We are grateful to Chancellor Ron Mitchelson, faculty and staff in the College of Health and Human Performance who helped make this a reality," Gilbert said. "This is an exciting project and a major addition to our fan experience as we ensure that everyone attending ECU athletics events feel included, supported and welcome. We are committed to making sure every guest or fan that visits our athletic venues has a comfortable and calming experience and will work to have a mobile space at our home football games in 2020."
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"PeeDee's Sensory room will give people who experience sensory overload at our ECU athletic events a place to relax and regroup so they may return to the game with their friends and families," said Dr. Jennifer Hodgson, Director of Medical Family Therapy Doctoral Program at East Carolina University. "It will be staffed with caring compassionate volunteers from the College of Health and Human Performance, Aces for Autism, the Autism Society, Best Buddies, and across our campus community. Our hope is that this sensory space will encourage more families from our community to attend ECU athletic events together and see ECU as an inclusive welcoming place for everyone."
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The Sensory Inclusion Project includes team members who are designing a program evaluation plan to study the benefits of the sensory inclusion project on those with sensory issues, their support system, stadium personnel, and students who are staffing and supporting the sensory inclusion resources obtained for the project.
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"It's a privilege for HHP to apply our scientific knowledge about successful programming to better understand the experiences of people across the lifespan as they participate in recreational activities," said Dr. Anisa Zvonkovic, Dean, College of Health and Human Performance at East Carolina University. "Such participation is a human right and we are thrilled to be able to foster an inclusive environment, through the expertise of our faculty, the enthusiasm of our students, and the partnership with Athletics.
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Faculty and staff involved in the project include: Jennifer Hodgson, David Loy, Emily Tucker, An Jihoun, Anisa Zvonkovic (Dean) & Jim Decker (all from the College of Health and Human Performance), Ryan Robinson (Executive Associative Athletics Director/ External Operations), Bobbie Robinson (Aces for Autism) Kyle Robinson (Director of Operations for Men's Basketball & Aces for Autism), Holly Akin (Autism Society), Wayne Godwin, Chris Stallings & Sarah Hicks (Honors College; Innovation Design Center), and Hannah Martin (Honors College & Chapter President of Best Buddies).
PeeDee's Sensory Room is the first of its kind at an ECU athletic venue and is part of a long-range Sensory Inclusion Project.
Sunday marks the fifth annual Aces for Autism game and the first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive t-shirts sponsored by Aces for Autism, Pirate Club and ECU Athletics. In addition, the team will wear Adidas jerseys with the Aces for Autism puzzle piece symbol.
Â
The space at Minges Coliseum is in the Developmental Motor Lab in Room 100 and includes an interactive sensory unit, soft gym mats, bean bag chairs, and bins of sensory toys for a variety of ages. More equipment and sensory-friendly bags that attendees can take to their seats and return will be purchased soon. With the purchase of mobile sensory trailers for children, adults, and veterans who experience sensory overload, we can expand this effort to attendees at other athletic events and beyond. Financial support for this project is vital and anyone interested in supporting the project can reach out to ECU Athletics or the ECU University Advancement Office.
Â
ECU Athletics Director Jon Gilbert and his staff collaborated with faculty associated with the Design for Disability Initiative housed in the College of Health and Human Performance (HHP) to provide a space for attendees who are experiencing sensory overload a place to calm so they may successfully return to the athletic event. Collaborators across campus and in the community have joined together with HHP and Athletics to help make this Sensory Inclusion Project a success (i.e., Aces for Autism, the Autism Society, The Innovation Design Lab in the Honors College, Best Buddies, KultureCity).
Â
"We are grateful to Chancellor Ron Mitchelson, faculty and staff in the College of Health and Human Performance who helped make this a reality," Gilbert said. "This is an exciting project and a major addition to our fan experience as we ensure that everyone attending ECU athletics events feel included, supported and welcome. We are committed to making sure every guest or fan that visits our athletic venues has a comfortable and calming experience and will work to have a mobile space at our home football games in 2020."
Â
"PeeDee's Sensory room will give people who experience sensory overload at our ECU athletic events a place to relax and regroup so they may return to the game with their friends and families," said Dr. Jennifer Hodgson, Director of Medical Family Therapy Doctoral Program at East Carolina University. "It will be staffed with caring compassionate volunteers from the College of Health and Human Performance, Aces for Autism, the Autism Society, Best Buddies, and across our campus community. Our hope is that this sensory space will encourage more families from our community to attend ECU athletic events together and see ECU as an inclusive welcoming place for everyone."
Â
The Sensory Inclusion Project includes team members who are designing a program evaluation plan to study the benefits of the sensory inclusion project on those with sensory issues, their support system, stadium personnel, and students who are staffing and supporting the sensory inclusion resources obtained for the project.
Â
"It's a privilege for HHP to apply our scientific knowledge about successful programming to better understand the experiences of people across the lifespan as they participate in recreational activities," said Dr. Anisa Zvonkovic, Dean, College of Health and Human Performance at East Carolina University. "Such participation is a human right and we are thrilled to be able to foster an inclusive environment, through the expertise of our faculty, the enthusiasm of our students, and the partnership with Athletics.
Â
Faculty and staff involved in the project include: Jennifer Hodgson, David Loy, Emily Tucker, An Jihoun, Anisa Zvonkovic (Dean) & Jim Decker (all from the College of Health and Human Performance), Ryan Robinson (Executive Associative Athletics Director/ External Operations), Bobbie Robinson (Aces for Autism) Kyle Robinson (Director of Operations for Men's Basketball & Aces for Autism), Holly Akin (Autism Society), Wayne Godwin, Chris Stallings & Sarah Hicks (Honors College; Innovation Design Center), and Hannah Martin (Honors College & Chapter President of Best Buddies).
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