NHL Stadium Series
Two Sundays ago, we got to go to the NHL Stadium Series: a National Hockey League game played outside! This year, they had two games at MetLife Stadium, home of the Jets and Giants.
We have been to MetLife Stadium many times to see NFL games, but it had been a while, so I called the customer service line beforehand. I asked about family restrooms I could use if I needed to take Mikey to the bathroom. I could see them on the venue map, but I wanted to double check if I needed to get an employee to unlock them for us…which we did.
On the phone, I was informed that I could also pick up a sensory bag at any of the customer service kiosks in the arena. Even though we already had our headphones and some supplies, I did get one so that I could see what they contain. You’ll laugh, but I actually got a bit emotional looking at the stuff they put in the bag because it was perfect!!!
It included headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys, an ID card, and a two-sided communication card.
This is brilliant! It allows people of any age the ability to communicate their needs in a crowded, loud, bustling environment. I was certainly glad I called ahead and I was impressed that these useful tools are available for families like ours.
We had a great time! I wish we had gotten a good family photo, but other than that, the day was a huge success! Mikey had a blast!
My Take-Away
Call ahead and make use of the resources that are available to you…you may be surprised at how good they have gotten.
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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