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Altoona Autism Night

Thoughtful sensory reduction in Altoona for Autism Acceptance Night.

Autism Acceptance Night

In 2020, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to 2016 data. Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.

The Curve presented the game with reduced audio inside the stadium in recognition of sensory issues.

As a parent of a child on the spectrum this is a thoughtful outreach.  

While I have spent my life trying to get fans to make noise at sporting events, my son anxiously watches games fearing an outbreak of applause or the terror of a goal horn.  While we try to mitigate with headphones it’s never quite the same experience….and for many kids on the spectrum its just not possible to enjoy a game with the sensory overload most teams present.

Picking one or two games a year to lighten the sensory load, especially for a special Autism Awareness Night shows an understanding and compassion for these kids and families.

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