On Friday, the Wayne County Airport Authority and Delta Air Lines introduced a new multisensory room at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). The facility is located in the Edward H. McNamara Terminal.
Similar to rooms at airports in Pittsburgh, Seattle, Kansas City, Portland, and Fort Wayne, this space is intended to provide a calm environment for individuals with sensory sensitivities or cognitive disabilities and their families. The room features calming colors, sounds, and activities designed to help travelers relax before continuing their journey.
Developed in collaboration with Delta Air Lines at a cost of nearly $500,000, the multisensory room includes spaces that aid self-regulation and relaxation. Notable features are a musical wall that produces sounds when touched and a visual stimulation wall with shapes and textures. Additional elements include a beanbag with fiber optic strands for visual input, a crash pad for anxiety reduction through deep pressure, and a tree with a cubby offering an escape from sensory input.