‘As I Am’ — that is how neurodiverse children, who have different strengths and challenges, want to be accepted (All photos: Low Yen Yeing/The Edge)
A child throwing a tantrum because he wants something he cannot get is a handful. More so one with sensory processing challenges because, when he has a meltdown, which can look like an oversized tantrum, he may try to bolt or hide from whatever is causing him distress: often loud noises, bright lights and crowds. In extreme cases, the child may even harm himself or others.
The best thing to do is take him to a quiet spot where he can calm down. Unfortunately, such areas are uncommon in most busy malls. So, parents are forced to grab their screaming child and make a quick getaway to avoid disapproving looks that say, “Why can’t you control him?”
Fortunately, the good folks at 1 Utama Shopping Centre understand that intense sensory stimuli can overwhelm those with autism spectrum disorder, making them fearful, angry, frustrated and unable to cope. To help ASD individuals handle such outbursts, the mall in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, has provided a retreat where they can find respite and be themselves.
This 800 sq ft Sensory Pod calm room is part of 1 Utama’s “As I Am — Celebrating Differences” campaign to create awareness of autism and be an inclusive and accessible place for everyone. Located on the second floor of the Oval, it is divided into the Sensory Pod with an Awan Play Space, for quiet playtime, and an Owl Quiet Zone, where deep-blue walls and dim lighting invite one to relax or have a snooze.
Special features include a reading corner, where one can slip on noise-cancelling headphones and enjoy a book or be mesmerised by multi-coloured fish at a chromotherapy station. There are eco-friendly acoustic wall panels, starry lights, a huge wooden blue bean to curl up in, soft toys, cosy chairs, bean bags, bubble tubes and owl tents.
Interactive tactiles and textures encourage users to explore their senses through touch and feel, a steady step towards helping those with ASD manage meltdowns. A communication board with words and emoticons on buttons enables the word-shy to express themselves.
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Over at the mall’s Playtime Kids playground on the ground floor Promenade, children of all abilities are welcome to whiz down slides, balance on customised structures, fiddle with sensory equipment and enjoy the fun-filled force of play, which fosters interaction and kindness.
All these intentional spaces and facilities were designed to help shoppers with sensory challenges feel better, says Lee Li Lian, 1 Utama’s public relations and sustainability senior manager.
“As I Am”, its CSR initiative, took more than a year to plan and implement, with many hours spent developing a digital membership registration system to simplify the process for those who wish to become members. It is supported by the National Autism Society of Malaysia, formed in 1986 by a group of parents and professionals who advocate for people with the condition.
Lee welcomes ASD individuals to join the As I Am community by signing up online. It is free and members can access the Sensory Pod and redeem a Sensory Kit that has fidget toys, ear plugs and a communication card, tools that aid learning and activities of daily living.
The first parents to register their daughter were Wong Wai Hoong and Hazel Loke, regular shoppers at the mall who noticed posters on the campaign during a visit. “I told myself I must get it done the next morning, straight away,” Wong says.
“It really makes me feel more confident knowing there is a safe space for Melody to regulate herself when she feels overwhelmed by the crowd and noise after being out for hours. Besides autistic individuals, this initiative benefits their caregivers, too.”
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Loke recalls that Melody, six, was diagnosed with ASD when she was 3½ years old. She had detected signs much earlier — a good friend’s teenage son is autistic and she knew what to look out for — but with the pandemic, they did not consult a specialist.
“When her diagnosis was confirmed, I was kind of prepared. I didn’t feel sad or surprised. All I wanted to know was, what can we do? How we do move forward? How can we help her progress?”
They were invited to the launch of the Sensory Pod, and Melody, with headphones on, was in a happy place touching and toying with the things around her.
Wong, who used to run his own fitness studio in collaboration with Sports Paragon, says he did not know about ASD initially. “I read books, learnt online, attended workshops and recently got myself certified as an autism fitness coach. I now offer one-on-one coaching or work with small groups at outdoor parks or clients’ private gyms.”
He and Loke accompany Melody on her speech therapy sessions. “We communicate very closely with her occupational therapist and school teachers. There must always be a strong link among us, parents, therapist and teachers.”
From when his daughter started walking, he encouraged her to embrace physical activity by taking her to the park. She swims frequently now and has just earned her yellow belt in taekwondo.
During Melody’s early swimming lessons, she hung on to him for hours and the coach gave up on her. “She had meltdowns, too, as she couldn’t understand why we needed to get out of the pool when it rained.”
But Sunday sessions at his cousin’s condominium pool have worked wonders. She now swims on her own, without floats. “Every time after a swim, she sleeps very well. Her mood is also better. I need to get a good coach to guide her on proper techniques.
“I hope that, over time, Melody will understand how sports help to shape her character — the preparation and discipline, embracing learning and losing,” Wong adds.
Looking ahead, Lee says 1 Utama will organise more autism-friendly activities, including circle-time sharing sessions, workshops and a job placement programme for ASD adults.
The mall intends to make shopping a family-friendly experience by providing baby rooms, strollers, buggy services and water refill stations. Folding chairs are available for the elderly and specially abled who need to catch their breath or require wheelchairs and mobility scooters to move around.
A literacy programme that the mall ran with Budimas Charitable Foundation emphasises that books matter and when you gift a book, you gift a future. It aims to circulate volumes to schools, libraries and learning centres so that 150,000 beneficiaries can share in the joy of reading.
This article first appeared on Dec 2, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia.
