Malls offering calming rooms, sensory pods to cater to needs of autistic children

KUALA LUMPUR - The provision of comfortable spaces in several popular shopping malls in the Klang Valley to help autistic children calm down is useful for parents who face challenges taking their special needs children out to public places.

Facilities such as calming rooms and sensory pods are available at 1 Utama in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, and Sunway Putra Mall and Sunway Velocity Mall in Kuala Lumpur, specifically to help autistic children feel calmer when they experience anxiety and stress due to noise and other stimuli.

Praising these initiatives, National Autism Society of Malaysia president Mohd Nazrul Mohd Amin said such facilities are important for creating an autism-friendly environment, allowing parents to bring their children to these spaces for a short break before continuing their shopping activities.

"These special rooms give autistic children, who may experience meltdowns, the chance to calm themselves in a more comfortable and less sensory-stimulating environment," he told Bernama.

The rooms are equipped with soft lighting and comfortable furniture, with the quieter ambience providing a space where autistic children can calm down from the stress caused by an overly busy environment.

Nazrul also noted that some malls recently enhanced these facilities by adding sensory pods, which are small spaces equipped with technology to help autistic children interact with their surroundings in a calmer, more controlled manner.

He also emphasised the importance of public awareness in understanding and empathising with the behaviour of special needs children in public.

Mardhiah Akmar, 34, a mother of three special needs children, said the provision of facilities for autistic children in public places is helping the country move towards a more inclusive society, allowing everyone to enjoy outdoor activities with their families.

"Bringing an autistic child to public places isn’t easy... it’s challenging for parents as these children are very sensitive to their surroundings such as sounds, lights, smells and textures. When they are overstimulated, they tend to feel uncomfortable and may have tantrums," she said.

Another parent Diyana Sazali, 36, is grateful for these facilities, which provide autistic children a better shopping experience.

"Previously, we had to leave early (after shopping) because my (autistic) child would become too anxious and restless. With the presence of more autism-friendly spaces, we feel more supported and less stressed," she said.

Meanwhile, 1 Utama senior manager of Public Relations and Sustainability Lee Li Lian said the availability of autism-friendly facilities aims to make the mall more inclusive and accessible to everyone.

"We welcome individuals of all ages with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) to join 1 Utama’s ‘As I Am’ community by registering online for free. It allows them to access sensory pods in the mall and redeem sensory kits," Lee said in a statement. - BERNAMA