“We don’t need big revolutions to create change; small, thoughtful actions can transform lives.”  – Vinaya Chinnappa, CEO, Incluzza

As the author is a trained mental health professional, this content doesn’t need an external reviewer.

In a world where architectural barriers often mirror societal ones, Incluzza is helping dismantle both, one inclusive space at a time. Bangalore International Airport’s work on creating India’s first airport sensory room in collaboration with Incluzza marks a step toward reconsidering how public spaces accommodate neurodiverse needs. “Airports are microcosms of society,” Vinaya reflects. “If we can make them accessible, we prove inclusion is possible everywhere.”

This groundbreaking 2025 initiative, developed under a six-week deadline, addresses a critical gap: neurodivergent travellers battling sensory overload in chaotic terminals. Research confirms that 90% of autistic individuals experience sensory hypersensitivity ^[1], making traditional airports profoundly distressing. Incluzza’s support in scientifically designing a sensory room that demonstrates how disability inclusion intersects with universal design principles ^[2].

The need for such inclusive spaces is undeniable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism ^[3], while the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1 in 100 children globally are on the spectrum ^[4]. Airports, often designed with efficiency in mind, rarely consider the needs of neurodivergent travelers. BIAL’s initiative is more than just a milestone; it’s a call to action.

By integrating sensory-friendly environments into mainstream infrastructure, BIAL is setting a precedent for the future of travel, ensuring that airports are not just gateways to destinations but also spaces of comfort and accessibility for all. 

INCLUZZA: Changing the inclusion narrative

Incluzza, a social enterprise working with employers and institutions, focuses on designing environments that work for diverse cognitive and physical needs. “Back in the ’90s, corporates conflated disability with inability,” Vinaya notes. While global corporations now invest $7.8 billion annually in diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives ^[8], Incluzza stresses that true inclusion requires dismantling both physical and attitudinal barriers simultaneously.

The sensory room: A haven for neurodivergent travelers

Earlier this year, Incluzza built India’s first airport sensory room at Bangalore International Airport (BIAL). Designed for neurodivergent individuals who experience sensory overload in chaotic airport environments, the space offers a calming retreat amid the high-intensity travel experience.

The experience was born from Enable India’s Mission 1000 program, which focused on employing neurodivergent individuals while also sensitizing employers. “Travel can be stressful for neurodivergent individuals. BIAL wanted to change that,” Vinaya explains. The project was developed with Incluzza’s partner, Shiloah, with expertise in occupational therapy research to ensure it met diverse sensory needs.

Evidence-based design for comfort and accessibility

The BIAL sensory room synthesizes principles from occupational therapy and neurodiversity research:

• Sensory modulation: Weighted blankets (5-10% of body weight) leverage deep pressure stimulation to reduce anxiety, an approach validated by studies on sensory regulation ^[9].

• Adaptive lighting: Circadian-rhythm-aligned LEDs minimize photophobia, a condition prevalent in 65% of autistic individuals ^[10].

• Acoustic engineering: White noise machines to reduce sensory distress.

• Layout: Designed to balance the needs of sensory seekers (interactive floors) and avoiders (soft lights, mellow music, bubble tube, infinity mirror), optimizing the 35 sq. m space despite airport constraints.

In order to ensure diverse needs are met,  

• Space optimization: The challenge was creating an environment that accommodated both sensory seekers and avoiders without overcrowding the limited space.

• Staff training: BIAL staff underwent neurodiversity training that would allow them to give users the best possible experience by understanding neurodiversity, the features of the room, and how to use them, and proactively assist travelers.

• Public awareness: The sensory room was integrated with BIAL’s Sunflower Lanyard Initiative for invisible disabilities, encouraging travelers to use the space.

“Seeing children explore the space, their joy validated everything,” Vinaya reflects. While it is still early days for widespread feedback, one parent posted a note of gratitude on LinkedIn soon after the inauguration was shared on social media. Such experiences mirror findings from Gatwick Airport’s sensory room, where 89% of users reported reduced pre-flight anxiety ^[12]. 

Beyond the airport: A vision for inclusive spaces

The sensory room is just the beginning. Across India, organizations are increasingly recognising the importance of neuroinclusive design. Incluzza’s efforts form part of a broader movement to integrate universal design into everyday infrastructure. The company envisions a future where inclusivity is embedded in every aspect of society, from workplaces to public spaces, through a combination of practical adaptations, policy leverage, and cultural shifts. These include low-cost workplace adaptations such as: 

• Noise-reduced Workstations: SAP’s autism hiring program created low-sensory workstations by merely repositioning desks away from high-traffic areas, a $200 intervention that resulted in a 300% increase in employee retention ^[13].

• Flexible lighting and quiet pods: Research shows that 80% of neurodivergent employees thrive in environments with adjustable lighting and designated quiet zones ^[14].

In addition, through their training initiatives, Incluzza guides corporations in exceeding legal requirements by embedding universal design principles, ensuring spaces are not just accessible but welcoming to all.

Shifting the narrative from sympathy (“We feel sorry for you”) to solidarity (“We’re designing with you”) is crucial for dismantling ableism ^[15]. “People disclose their needs only when they feel safe. Surveys aren’t enough,” Vinaya stresses. Organizations must foster environments where employees feel comfortable sharing their challenges without fear of stigma. 

A call to action: The ripple effect of inclusion

By spearheading India’s first airport sensory room, BIAL demonstrated how inclusion can begin with focused intent and timely collaboration. “Take action. Inclusion isn’t a checkbox, it’s a mindset,” Vinaya urges leaders.

As airports across India and beyond take notice, more will see inclusion as a collective benefit. “When we train airport staff, they’re not just learning to assist disabled travellers, they’re gaining skills to support elderly passengers, overwhelmed parents, even stressed executives,” she explains.

With every traveler who finds solace in the sensory room, the impact grows. “Every step forward matters,” she says. And for those with sensory needs, that step is now a quiet haven amidst airport chaos, a powerful reminder of what’s possible when empathy meets execution.

Next time you’re rushing through Bangalore Airport’s Terminal 2, take a moment to notice the unassuming sensory room near the 080 Lounge. 

BIAL’s work reminds us that inclusion isn’t about grand gestures, but about those thoughtful details that make daily life a little easier for someone, whether it’s a weighted blanket for an overwhelmed traveler or simply a quiet corner in a chaotic world. “The magic of inclusive design,” Vinaya says with a smile, “is that it works beautifully for some, and wonderfully for everyone.”

References

1. Taels, L., Feyaerts, J., Lizon, M., De Smet, M., & Vanheule, S. (2023). ‘I felt like my senses were under attack’: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of experiences of hypersensitivity in autistic individuals. Autism, 27(8), 2269-2280.
2. Klaus, P., Edwards, K., Norvik, D., Manthiou, A., & Luong, V. H. (2024). Inclusive servicescapes: the imperative of universal design principles. Journal of Services Marketing, 38(8), 1089-1098.
3. Harris, E. (2023). Autism prevalence has been on the rise in the US for decades—and that’s progress. JAMA, 329(20), 1724-1726.
4. World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). Autism spectrum disorders. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders
5. McKinsey & Company. (2023). Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/diversity-wins-how-inclusion-matters
6. Yu, J., Yang, Z., Sun, S., Sun, K., Chen, W., Zhang, L., … & Zhu, Y. (2024). The effect of weighted blankets on sleep and related disorders: a brief review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1333015.
7. Nair, A. S., Priya, R. S., Rajagopal, P., Pradeepa, C., Senthil, R., Dhanalakshmi, S., … & Zuo, X. (2022). A case study on the effect of light and colors in the built environment on autistic children’s behavior. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13, 1042641.
8. Civil Aviation Authority UK (CAA UK). (2021). Improving the Air Travel Experience for Passengers with Hidden Disabilities: A Sensory Room Initiative at Gatwick Airport. Retrieved from ttps://www.caa.co.uk/media/jrkl0yro/27-revealing-reality-open-to-all-january-2021.pdf
9. Coplan, J., Crocker, L., Landin, J., & Stenn, T. (2021). Building supportive, inclusive workplaces where neurodivergent thinkers thrive: Approaches in managing diversity, inclusion, and building entrepreneurship in the workplace. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 86(1), 21-30.
10. Sargent, K. (2025). Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: Advancing Sensory Processing and Cognitive Well-Being in the Built Environment. John Wiley & Sons.
11. Abes, E. S. (2023). Crip theory: Dismantling ableism in student development theory. In Rethinking college student development theory using critical frameworks (pp. 64-72). Routledge.