The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has announced the opening of its latest feature: a Sensory Room tailored for neurodiverse travelers and their families. This innovative space includes various interactive areas for diverse experiences. The Activity Area provides both digital and analog options, while the Calming/Soothing Area encourages relaxation. Notably, there’s a Cabin Experience, a life-sized mock-up of an aircraft interior, allowing families to acclimate to the flying experience before their actual trip.

“Our mission is to deliver an airport experience that puts people first, and our first-ever Sensory Room demonstrates our commitment to make SFO easier, less stressful and more accessible for all passengers,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero.

“With this facility, neurodivergent travelers and their families can now find a comforting space to make their travels more relaxing and enjoyable. My thanks go out to our project team for making this vision a reality.”

To create this space, the SFO project team researched similar facilities globally and collaborated with UCSF Children’s Hospital and The Arc San Francisco, which champions individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Sensory Room is located in Harvey Milk Terminal 1, accessible from any terminal at SFO via connecting walkways, and is open daily from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM, though it will not be staffed.