Community Center Now Sensory Inclusive Certified
Furthering its commitment to inclusivity, the North Liberty Community Center has partnered with non-profit KultureCity to enhance its ability to assist and accommodate guests with special sensory needs, to provide an inclusive experience for all guests using the community center.
KultureCity’s flagship initiative, the Sensory Inclusive program, has been widely embraced by venues, stadiums and cultural institutions across the nation and around the world. This groundbreaking program provides training and resources to staff, enabling them to better accommodate individuals with sensory sensitivities. As a result, countless families and individuals can now experience and enjoy live events, entertainment, and public spaces with greater comfort and ease.
The Kulture City certification was made possible by a Johnson County Quality of Life Block grant. Each year through the budgeting processes, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors allocates funds to promote economic development in Johnson County and enhance the quality of life of its residents. The grants are taxpayer-funded and the Board of Supervisors determines the process, allocation, and oversight of the funds.
The certification process entailed the North Liberty Community Center staff being trained by leading medical and neurodivergent professionals on how to recognize those guests and fans with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation. Sensory bags, equipped with noise canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads, are available to all guests who may feel overwhelmed at the Library information desk and Recreation Center front desk.
Prior to attending an event, families can download the free KultureCity App, where anyone can view what sensory features are available and where they can access them. Also, on the App is the Social Story which will provide a preview of what to expect while enjoying an event at the community center. Download the KultureCity App for iPhone or Android or visit the community center’s profile.
KultureCity, established in 2014, is a dynamic non-profit organization at the forefront of the inclusivity movement which continues to make waves in creating a more accessible and accepting world for individuals with sensory needs and invisible disabilities (found in1 in 4 of us). In a short 10 years, a few highlight of KultureCity’s impact includes making over 1,800 venues sensory inclusive certified, handing out almost a million sensory bags to individuals in need, making over 150 live events sensory inclusive, and saving 48 lives through the KultureCity First Responder Training. KultureCity’s commitment to inclusivity extends beyond physical spaces. The organization actively collaborates with influential figures, businesses, and communities to promote awareness and understanding of invisible disabilities. KultureCity partners with event industry leaders like NFL, NBA, MLB and FIFA to make their flagship events sensory inclusive. With ongoing initiatives, partnerships, and a passionate community of supporters, KultureCity is set to leave an enduring impact on the landscape of inclusivity.
