Oakland A’s unnveil sensory room at Oakland Coliseum

As part of April’s National Autism Awareness Month, the Oakland A’s will unveil a new Sensory Room at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday, April 16 during the game versus the Houston Astros. The quiet space at East Plaza Level Suite 80 in centerfield will cater to fans of all ages with autism, Down syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, and similar conditions who can find comfort from a soothing atmosphere. The space will include “sensory bags,” filled with noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, and other tools as calming mechanisms. The Sensory Room is available for every game for all fans.

The space was created in partnership with Micah's Voice, which helps provide community, hope, and financial resources for families affected by autism. The nonprofit is named after the son of its co-founders Sharhonda and Shawn Stockman, who is also a founding member of Boyz II Men. The Stockmans will attend the A’s game and help unveil the Sensory Room.

“We’ve heard from fans who have experienced sensory overload during our games and asked for our support. Our Sensory Room is open to all fans who need a calm, quiet atmosphere related to sensory issues,” said Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval. “We thank Micah’s Voice for their support and guidance when creating this area. This space is just the first step in seeking to broaden awareness, acceptance, and accessibility for people living with sensory-processing issues.”

“We are pleased to work with the Oakland A’s and one of our local community partners, the nonprofit Joshua’ Gift, to help make the Bay Area and Northern California region more inclusive and welcoming to families living with autism and other special needs,” says Belma Michael Johnson, Executive Director of Micah’s Voice.

The Club will host their annual Autism Awareness Day on Saturday, April 20, when they play host to the Blue Jays at 1:07 p.m. For more information, visit athletics.com/specialevents.

About Micah’s Voice: Micah’s Voice (www.micahsvoice.com) was founded to organize and support the autism community all over the world. With support from Kaiser Permanente, the nonprofit is currently focusing on increasing awareness, resources and opportunities for families living with autism in Northern California through direct aid and by engaging local autism charities such as Joshua’s Gift, which is named after the son of its founders, Mizpah and Kerry Rich, who also will attend the A’s game. The two nonprofits are co-hosting a community event at Cisco’s headquarters on April 17.