Salt Lake City airport opens first of three sensory rooms

• The roughly 100-square-foot room, located in Concourse A, was designed by medical professionals and neurodivergent individuals.

Why it matters: Airports can be overwhelming for people with sensory issues, due to large crowds, distracting noises and unforeseen situations.

• Sensory issues are common among people living with autism, dementia, PTSD and other conditions

The big picture: Airports in Atlanta, Portland and San Francisco have opened similar spaces.

• The Delta Center has provided a sensory room since 2018 on its fifth floor.

State of play: The Salt Lake airport worked with Alabama-based nonprofit KultureCity, which provides training on interacting with people with sensory challenges, to create the room.

What they're saying: "Whether you're a child who was born with a sensory need, or an adult who acquired it, or a teenager who just gets anxious from time to time, this space is here for you," KultureCity executive director Uma Srivastava told reporters Tuesday.

Flashback: The partnership between the city and the nonprofit was formed after the Salt Lake City police shooting of Linden Cameron, an unarmed 13-year-old autistic boy.

• Cameron was seriously injured when an officer shot him multiple times after his mother called 911 as he was experiencing a mental health crisis.
• KultureCity later provided training for most of the Salt Lake City Police Department. Airport staff will also receive training annually.

What's next: This is the first of three sensory rooms that will be built at the airport. The remaining two are set to open in the fall.