I get that when I have.

Hello and welcome to.

Horizonte a show that takes a look at current issues through a Hispanic lens?

I'm your host, Catherine Anaya.

Historically, Hispanic and Latinx children were diagnosed with autism at lower rates than non-Hispanic white children.

But new centers for Disease Control data shows that gap is beginning to narrow.

To give all families with sensory sensitivities such as autism, ADHD, and epilepsy the ability to enjoy experiences like a major sporting event.

Three Arizona stadiums now house sensory rooms.

Joining me to talk more about how these rooms are offering families a safe, comfortable space to enjoy a big game experience is Gabriela Salcedo, founder of the Scottsdale based Roman Empire Agency.

Thank you so much for joining us, for having me here.

Good to see you.

Now, your agency supports people of all ages with developmental disabilities like autism.

We were mentioning ADHD and epilepsy for families who are navigating sensory sensitivities.

Big sporting events like football games and baseball games, they can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Can you explain a little bit about how these environments, the crowds, the noise, the light impact families with sensory challenges?

Yeah, some of these families want to enjoy the game.

They want to take their children, but it's very difficult.

And they face the challenges of, like you said, it's very loud.

The crowd, the noises, the lighting.

So we want to be able to offer something to the families.

So we decided to do the sensory rooms and just different states to different venues so that the families can come and bring the children and that they can go ahead and enjoy the game.

And it's a very good experience because they're able to enjoy the game.

We offer some widget toys, and they're able to take a ten back to the seat and stay with the families and watch the game.

So we decided to do this because we are facing a very crisis situation where 132 children are getting diagnosed with autism, and they see so many challenges with sensory issues.

So these rules that we're offering, these sensory rooms, it's a great way for them to enjoy the game.

It makes such a difference because it is this inclusive way for them to enjoy these big sporting events with their families.

To make that experience, you know, more comfortable and more inclusive.

The Arizona Cardinals and you partner your agency partnered last year to open a sensory room at the, State Farm Stadium.

How is this room designed for these families to feel that comfortable, safe environments.

So these rooms are designed because they're soundproof.

They have lighting.

We have therapists on site that if they come to the, sensory room, we're able to offer that experience where the child can interact with the toys that we have there.

We have things that are in the walls.

It's very calming.

It's soothing.

So when the families leave, they're with the little widget toys.

They're also very excited.

So it gives them a time to recharge, to take a little break.

And it's so, just effective for the families.

And they enjoy.

We have such great success when we started doing this with the Cardinal Stadium.

Well, tell me a little bit about that success.

Have you been able to witness firsthand how transformative this is for the families?

It is.

We started out with like one family visiting the room.

They had no idea the sensory room was there before, but it had no exposure.

Families didn't really know how to utilize it.

So when we came in to partner up with the Cardinals as well as other, venues, we decided that we were going to do something very creative for the families.

We were going to offer onsite therapists that it can interact with the children.

So that's what makes it different.

These sensory rooms have onsite staff there.

For them.

We have a bcba.

We have staff that are very well trained.

So it's very, very interesting that we're able to offer this because the families love it.

We started out with like one family and we ended up with like over 50 families visiting.

It's really, really amazing for the Diamondbacks.

There's some data that they took, during the last season and over 1000 families visited the center.

That was incredible.

Thank you on that.

You mentioned the, therapists that are in the room there.

These sensory rooms are the only ones in the country that actually have therapists on staff.

Yes, to my knowledge, yes.

There are sensory rooms in different stadiums, but they don't have onsite staff that interact with the children and adults.

And why is that so crucial?

It's important because they need to sometimes have those techniques that the parents can take back to the scene, you know?

So we offer that to the families, you know, not only the widget toy, but we also offer them techniques.

Okay, you can use this toy, you can take it back to the stadium.

And we also offer to the families that if they want to come back to recharge again, maybe in the second quarter of the third quarter of the game, they're able to do so.

They don't have to make reservations for these rooms.

They can just go ahead and come as a walk in.

We do limited about 15 minutes or so, but it's not just 15 minutes.

If they need more time, we're able to accommodate those families with more time, which is fantastic.

You mentioned, Chase field and Sun Devil Stadium.

When you partnered with these two organizations, they actually approached you?

Yes.

How did that come about?

We were just so excited that they told us, hey, you know, we have a sensory room.

It's underutilized.

We would like to go ahead and make some use of it.

That's how I started with the Cardinals.

So we went ahead and and did it.

It was so effective and so successful that then the Diamondbacks said, we want the same thing.

We want this for us.

We are so involved with the community and we want to be able to offer this, and I think it's going to be a big hit.

So we're like, okay, fine, we designed the room, we came together and it was developed and it was a huge success.

They did the right thing because, you know, so many families love not only, at the football, but also baseball, you know, so the Diamondbacks is very big in Arizona.

And the fact that we're able to do this in Arizona for the first time, it's really amazing.

This had nothing but positive feedback from the facts.

So great.

And these rooms, they're very they have a very calming sense about them the way they're designed.

I know that, for a lot of these families, this was the first time that they have ever been able to experience a sporting event, a big game sporting event like this together as a family.

How powerful is that for you to be involved in something that's really so life changing for a family?

It is is actually very heartbreaking.

And I can't believe that we're actually making that break for the first time and being able to offer this.

Right, because it's not offered in anywhere in the world.

This is the first time that we're doing this.

So it's very heartbreaking.

It's very rewarding that we're able to offer this to the families.

And like I said, it's also extended to the adults that have sensory issues because one out of 45 adults also get diagnosed with autism that may have sensory issues.

So we're just so exciting.

We hope that this can grow.

Maybe other agencies can do the same thing that I'm doing, you know, across the nations.

That would be very great to have.

at was going to be my next question.

Is this kind of a blueprint for other state s, and have other states reached out to you or other venues about doing something similar?

There is a few other MLB set that reached out to us.

But we want to go ahead and master what we have right now and make sure that we get it.

You know, all the logistics correctly and everything.

We are learning a lot.

We're learning, you know, how more we can enhance what more we can offer to the rooms.

But we would love to see, all of the stadiums, all of the large venues offer these to the families and the children.

I know you have been at practicing attorney.

How did you get involved in this type of work?

What inspired you to do this?

So I wasn't a practicing attorney.

I do have a law degree.

I started out, yes.

I started out as a social worker for the state of California.

You know, I did that for about ten years.

I left the field and then afterwards I decided to open up my program.

I know what the need was.

I knew what I was able to offer and the quality and the experience that I had.

And so I know that there was a need.

And so the fact that I developed my, companies and I've been in business for about 16 years has been so rewarding, and now we've extended more programs such now we're able to offer like behavioral therapy for the children and like seven different states and growing.

And we're very excited to to to be here for the families.

And now more than anything, able to offer these sensory rooms, you know, here in Arizona make such a big difference.

So when people come to your agency, they can also find out, resources, tips for how to navigate the various sensory challenges that they're dealing with.

Right.

Absolutely.

We do so much for the families, the adults, the children.

We provide services from a child that's two years old all the way to someone that has a disability, developmental disability, up to 80 years old.

If someone needs therapy for the child, we're there for them.

We provide that for them.

If the mom has a teenage, son or daughter that needs help.

We do provide transitional services and making them independent.

Let's say there is, person that wants to have the desire to live alone.

One day, we provide that 24 hour support of the staff for them to live independently with the right supports in place.

If there's a client that may got involved with the law that is forensically involved, we provide that service for them and we try to get them out of the probation, scenery because they don't know how to, go ahead and, you know, report every day to probation.

So we take care of that for them.

We integrate them, we rehabilitate them and put them back in the community.

That's what we do.

We do every type of service for a child or adult that has a developmental disability.

Great.

So if a family is watching this, they know where they can go to get these resources and information that you provide.

But if they want to take part in the sensory room, what is the process they have to go through?

Because does it vary from one stadium to the other?

So I will make it very simple.

Okay.

So like at the Cardinal Stadium, they go ahead and they're located on the first floor and they can ask any staff where is the sensory room located?

And they'll guide them and direct them.

For the Diamondbacks, we're located at the diamond level in the left field.

Again, all they have to do is ask someone where the sensory room they're, locate them and put them in the elevator and put them in the right place for the ask you now that we're partner with ASU, they're we're on the first level and the athletics department above the, Hall of Fame.

That's fantastic.

We're so excited to offer this for the first time to a college campus because, this room that we've designed, you know, it's used during the week for the athletic at risk team, so they're able to use it during the week.

And then on the weekends, the families that come to the games are able to access it.

And that's what the sensory room.

It has a multi-purpose.

And we're so excited that we're able to integrate, not only the students, but now the families visiting these games.

And it's truly wonderful and so inspiring.

Thank you so much for joining me here and talking a little bit about how these are really making a difference in in families lives.

Yes.

And then I'll just mention my website.

If someone has, you know, if they want more information, it's Roman Empire agency.com.

And again thank you so much everyone.

Gabriela Salcedo I'm the founder and I love what I'm doing.

Thank you Gabriela.

It shows I appreciate you joining me.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And that's our show for Horizonte and Arizona PBS I'm Kathryn Anaya.

We'll see you next time.

Me?

I can't wait.

I have.