Did you know that there are four quiet rooms inside the Expo? Yes. Called “The decompression zone,” they are designed for visitors who may be overwhelmed by the dazzling displays of events lined up at the world’s greatest exhibition?
Each room contains a sofa, innovative sensory pod, and sensory corner for “people feeling overstimulated, overwhelmed or anxious”, according to Expo’s official website.
These four quiet rooms will be part of a truly barrier-free Expo 2020 site, designed to meet all needs and provide various amenities to enhance the capabilities of visitors.
These facilities are associated with one of the key sub-themes, “Opportunity” Consistent.
In this way, UAE is giving everyone an opportunity to enjoy and experience Expo2020 regardless of their age, background, or physical or mental abilities.
Personally, I find it awesome, because as someone who studied about the people with special needs, it is not every day I encounter someone or a huge event as huge as Expo 2020 Dubai could recognize and consider them too!
A certified sensory-accessible event
The World Expo obtained the certification of the famous “Sensory Accessibility Activities” by the International Sensory Accessibility Committee to allow Expo 2020 in Dubai to include it in the facility.
This made the Expo 2020 Dubai become the first event in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia region, and the first-ever World Expo to be certified as a Sensory Accessible Event.
Where did the idea come from?
Reem Al Hashmy, Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, happens to visit Dubai Autism Center during World Autism day in April 2020 which the theme was “Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World.”
She visited the dark sensory room of the facility, where children learned to regulate the brain’s response to external stimuli; and from there out of impression with the facilities, she suggested replicating it at the Expo 2020.
Where can I find the Quiet Rooms at Expo
‘Quiet Rooms’ is located within the information centres at Visitor Centres 1, 3, 4, and 6.
