Travelers at Chicago airports may notice a new symbol on airport maps and it signals something particularly important.
The icons indicate special areas at both airports designated as resources for those with sensory issues.
The visual guides will show travelers where they can find spaces with low or natural lighting, which spaces to avoid with higher noise levels or strong smells and more. Sensory bags will be available at airport information desks, offering things like headphones and fidgets.
The resources are designed to help neurodivergent travelers, specifically those with sensory sensitivities, “feel more comfortable or prepare for their experience at Chicago’s airports.”
The Chicago Department of Aviation unveiled the sensory maps, instructional videos and resources at O’Hare and Midway International Airports Thursday.
“The travel experience can be stressful and overwhelming at times, but we are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment for people who experience sensory sensitivities and for all passengers at O’Hare and Midway,” CDA Commissioner Michael McMurray said in a statement.
The new sensory maps can be found at FlyChicago.com/Sensory, offering visual guides to both O’Hare and Midway Airports.
“The maps highlight sections of each terminal where travelers can expect to experience high, low or medium sensory input, as well as the locations of security checkpoints and places that tend to have dense crowds,” the CDA said in a release. “Icons on the map also identify locations with artwork, seating, low lighting, natural lighting, high or low noise levels, strong smells and other sensory factors travels may want to consider when planning their trip through O’Hare and Midway.”
There are also sensory “point-of-view” videos that demonstrate what to expect at different stages of travel at Chicago’s airports.