Sensory-friendly activities in San Antonio are helping families enjoy common experiences with loved ones who have autism or other special needs.

Why it matters: Autism has long been stigmatized. Now, a growing number of companies and organizations are accommodating people with special sensory needs.

• "We've seen personally the difference of how people are open to neurodiversity … 10 or 15 years ago, people were not ready to have this conversation," San Antonio-based Adriana Crostley, outreach director at the Autism Society of Texas, tells Axios.

By the numbers: The Autism Society of Texas estimates there are "well over 500,000 people" with autism in the state.

Reality check: Sensory-friendly activities, which reduce stimuli and sensory overload, can also help veterans and families with dogs that are sensitive to loud noises.

Details: Crostley's church, University Methodist Church in San Antonio, offers a weekly disability-inclusive service and Sunday school for children with special needs.

• She says the programming has made a big difference for her teenage son, who is autistic, and for her family.

Zoom in: The DoSeum offers Beyond Limits programming. Modifications include smaller crowds, free accessories like sunglasses, headphones and earplugs, assistive signs and specialized staff.

• This year, the San Antonio Zoo became a certified sensory-inclusive zoo, a process that included training staff.
• The Spurs opened a sensory-friendly room at the Frost Bank Center in 2019.

Reality check: Challenges remain for individuals with autism, including long wait times to get a diagnosis and difficulty finding accommodations in day-to-day activities, Crostley says.

What's next: Chuck E. Cheese will open two hours early on Sunday — and the first Sunday of every month — to offer a quieter environment, dimmed lighting and specially trained staff.

• The San Antonio Chuck E. Cheese at 11735 Bandera Road is participating.

More accessible places

Attending a Spurs game could cost you more this year, but San Antonio fans will still pay less than the average NBA fan.

Why it matters: The city has been abuzz with hype around Victor Wembanyama, who is expected to boost San Antonio's visibility on an international scale.

By the numbers: A family of four will spend, on average, $208.50 at a Spurs game for the cheapest available tickets, a parking spot, two beers, two sodas and four hot dogs.

• Last season it would have cost them $175.64.

What they did: Bookies.com calculated the cost of attending an NBA game in each area using the cheapest available ticket on Ticketmaster for home games in December and January.

The big picture: The average cost across the league is $304.64, Axios' Analis Bailey reports.

• Since last season, the total cost per game rose $16.26, a 5.3% increase.

💭 Megan's thought bubble: That increase isn't too terrible, considering we get to see an international basketball phenom here at home.

Meanwhile, the excitement around Wemby has translated into high demand for tickets, and interest in attending NBA games earlier in the season is growing, Axios' Maxwell Millington reports.

Zoom in: Ticket sales for Spurs games are up 200% over last year, per StubHub.

Plus, the Spurs ranked No. 6 for tickets sold for away games this season, according to the StubHub data.

• That means people want to watch the Spurs (and Wemby) play in their city, regardless of fan allegiance.

What's next: The next home game is 2:30pm Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.

🚨 A man accused of threatening to kill San Antonio Police Chief William McManus has been arrested. (NEWS 4)

Residents asked the City Council to end San Antonio's "friendship city" ties with Tel Aviv, outraged by Israel's attacks in Gaza. Mayor Ron Nirenberg said he won't end the agreement. (Express-News 🔒)

🎢 Six Flags and Cedar Fair, the owner of Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, will merge to create one of the largest theme park operators in North America. (Axios)

☕ The chefs behind Mixtli will open a coffee and lunch spot called Greenhouse in Olmos Park by the end of the year. (SA Current)

The newly designed City Edition court and uniforms for the Spurs highlight Hemisfair and the Tower of the Americas.

• A retail collection is on sale at the Spurs Fan Shop and online.

Zoom in: Hemisfair was the site of the 1968 World's Fair in San Antonio. The new uniform design is influenced by the style of the late 1960s, with an Earth-toned color palette of brown and orange, accented by pink, yellow and green on the shorts.

• The logo features the Tower of the Americas, which was built for the 1968 World's Fair.

What's next: The Spurs will wear the new uniforms for the first time on Nov. 10 at the Frost Bank Center when they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the in-season tournament.

• The City Edition court will appear for the first time on Nov. 20, when the Spurs host the Los Angeles Clippers.

👋 Megan here. When the temperature drops, I know exactly what I need: a giant bowl of piping hot soup.

• I stopped by Kimura, a Japanese restaurant in Five Points.

🍜 Details: I ordered the miso ramen ($13). It's a vegan broth with fried tofu, green onions, a boiled egg, nori, fish cakes, shiitake mushrooms, cabbage and (of course) ramen noodles.

• The broth is the most flavorful, umami vegan broth I've ever had. I can't stop thinking about it.

Pro tip: If you're vegan, ask for extra vegetables to replace the egg and fish cakes. I added carrots.

Plus, we shared the grilled bok choy ($5) as an appetizer. It's pretty unbelievable, especially when dipped in the black garlic sauce.

• Just look at that char.

Bonus: The restaurant has a funky, warm atmosphere. You can order unique sakes and Japanese beers.

The bottom line: I'll be back.