City of Birmingham Unveils Boutwell Auditorium’s First-Ever Sensory Room

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson | For The Birmingham Times The City of Birmingham on Tuesday unveiled its first-ever “sensory room” at the Boutwell Auditorium in downtown for children and adults who experience sensory sensitivities – which often produce adverse reactions to loud noises or sounds, loud smells, bright lights or even large crowd gatherings. The room was named in honor of Tamika Hall, a City of Birmingham employee who worked at the Boutwell and advocated for the room before passing away unexpectedly in late September. The Birmingham City Council issued a proclamation on Tuesday in support of the Sensory Room. “Anyone with a panic attack, or any other type of sensory meltdown of any sort, or just in need of a pause, is invited to utilize this space,” said Boutwell Auditorium Director Alicia Johnson Williams. Use of the room is as simple as walking up to a guard at the Boutwell and making a request, said Williams. The room was named in honor of Tamika Hall, a City of Birmingham employee who worked at the Boutwell and advocated for the room before passing away unexpectedly in late September. (Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson, For The Birmingham Times) Birmingham worked with KultureCity which has installed...