People can now use these sensory backpacks at Waterloo facilities

1 week_ago 11

Kitchener-Waterloo·New

Sensory backpacks are present disposable astatine six City of Waterloo facilities to assistance assemblage members with sensory stimulation.

Bags are designed to enactment sensory needs of assemblage members

Karis Mapp · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 10, 2025 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Here's what's included successful Waterloo's caller sensory backpacks

The City of Waterloo is present offering sensory backpacks astatine six of its facilities. The bags are escaped to get for assemblage members who person sensory processing disabilities oregon sensitivities. CBC K-W's Karis Mapp stopped by the assemblage pavilion attached to the Waterloo Recreation Complex to larn much astir the backpack’s contents.

People who whitethorn acquisition sensory sensitives can present entree backpacks with tools to assistance them navigate six antithetic facilities successful the City of Waterloo.

The backpacks became disposable connected April 2 to align with World Autism Day.

"We designed them to service individuals successful the assemblage with antithetic sensory processing disabilities oregon sensory sensitivities that whitethorn payment from having the backpacks successful spaces that tin sometimes beryllium truly overwhelming," explained Molly Riediger, Waterloo's inclusion services co-ordinator.

The bags contain:

Sunglasses and sound cancelling headphones to trim sensory input.
A assortment of fidget tools and a seat set to summation sensory input.
Picture speech connection strategy (PECS), a timer, and a drafting pad for self-regulation and communication.

The backpacks are escaped of complaint and tin beryllium signed retired by anyone 13 years oregon older. Anyone younger who needs 1 tin person a genitor oregon guardian motion 1 retired connected their behalf.

After seeing different municipalities rotation retired the tools, Riediger said Waterloo adopted the idea. She said the city's depository had expressed involvement successful getting the backpacks.

"We thought, wherefore wouldn't we privation to instrumentality these crossed the city?" she said.

No idiosyncratic accusation is needed to beryllium shared to motion retired the bags, but unit inquire that the backpacks and their contents stay successful the facilities. They tin beryllium utilized arsenic agelong arsenic needed.

They tin beryllium recovered at:

Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.
The assemblage pavilion astatine the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.
City of Waterloo Museum.
Albert McCormick Community Centre.
RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex and Healthy Living Centre.
Waterloo City Centre.

Each installation is equipped with 2 backpacks.

"We decidedly saw a request successful the assemblage that precise rapidly came to our attraction erstwhile radical recovered retired astir the bags. So we're truly excited to spot however they tin payment people," Riediger said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After increasing up successful Waterloo Region, Karis Mapp obtained a diploma from the College of Sports Media. She has since spent clip reporting for CityNews 570 and CTV Kitchener. Karis joined CBC K-W successful February 2024 and is excited to research the stories that mean the astir to the community. Story ideas tin beryllium sent to her astatine [email protected]

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