Kentwood Skate Rink Creates Safe Space for Children With Autism

KENTWOOD, Mich. — GR Skate & Event Center has introduced a new initiative designed to make the busy, loud environment of a public skating rink accessible for families with special needs. The center's newly launched Sensory Sunday events create a calmer, more inclusive experience for children with autism and other sensory processing challenges.

Shannon Sample, a single mother from Kentwood, became one of the first families to benefit from the program. Her 10-year-old daughter Emerson has autism and is nonverbal. Sample said caring for Emerson requires constant attention, including feeding her five times a day through a feeding tube.

"I am a single mom raising three girls, so one with her being special needs and being non verbal, and she's fed through a feeding tube that I have to feed her five times a day," Sample said.

In the past, Emerson has often been excluded from community events and recreational activities that other children enjoy. The loud noises, flashing lights, and large crowds at typical skating events have made the experience overwhelming for Emerson.

"I typically bring my two other daughters skating, and my parents end up watching Emerson just because I never would have thought to bring her skating, because it's so busy and it's loud in the flashing light," Sample said.

Lower Capacity, Calmer Environment

GR Skate & Event Center has specifically designed the Sensory Sunday experience to reduce sensory overload. Kate Leep, Sales Manager at the facility, explained the changes made to create a welcoming environment.

"We really want it to be a space, a safe space for families, to have resources in a community, for children with special needs," Leep said.

The center implements several modifications during Sensory Sundays:

• Reduced crowd capacity to avoid hundreds of people in the building
• Lowered music volume to minimize auditory stimulation
• Dimmed, calm lighting without any flashing lights
• Quiet areas in the back of the facility for families who need a break from the activity

"This environment is a big help for the Sample family," Leep said.

Sample described the difference as transformative for her family. Seeing all three of her daughters together at the skate rink was something she had not experienced before.

"To have them all together, it was amazing as a mom to see that, to feel that it was amazing," Sample said.

Community-Inclusive Programming

The Sensory Sunday initiative reflects a growing trend of making public events more accessible for people with disabilities and sensory processing differences. Similar programs have emerged at other venues across the country, with organizations like Autism Advocates working with event organizers to coordinate times and modifications for families.

The program is scheduled to begin in May, with the first event set for the first Sunday of the month. There will be no Sensory Sunday in April due to Easter.

The initiative comes as awareness of autism and sensory processing differences continues to grow in West Michigan communities. Local organizations have been working to ensure that public spaces and events can accommodate families with special needs without compromising the experience for other community members.

About GR Skate & Event Center

GR Skate & Event Center serves the Kentwood, Wyoming, and Byron Center communities as a multi-purpose recreational facility. The center provides skating opportunities for residents of all ages and skill levels, and the new Sensory Sunday program demonstrates its commitment to serving the diverse needs of the families in its community.

"We have quiet areas in the back, if people need," Leep said.

The program represents a meaningful step forward for inclusive community programming in Kent County.