MEDICAL SPOTLIGHT
SENSORY INCLUSIVE SERVICES
Medical group responds
to need for inclusivity
At Urgent Care for Children, parents can request a mobile
sensory unit, a portable device equipped with an aquarium,
nerves when waiting in the exam room.
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BY JEANA DURST
PHOTO COURTESY OF URGENT CARE FOR CHILDREN
lives with some kind of disability? According
to Kulture City, a Vestavia Hills-based national
and inclusion for all individuals with unique
abilities, only 20% of these disabilities are visible.
In other words, when these individuals—who may
perceive the world differently—interact with their
community, they may be misunderstood. This is
especially true for children.
In 2020, it’s widely accepted that autism is
one of the most common disabilities affecting
kids (and certainly one of the most common
“invisible” disabilities).When children on the
spectrum don’t get the same level of awareness
and acceptance of their special needs as kids
with other disabilities, it can be particularly
challenging—and heartbreaking.
One medical group in Birmingham is out to
change the experience children receive when
they are sick and most vulnerable. Urgent Care
care sensory inclusive facility in September of
2019. Dr. Allury Arora, co-founder and chief
to kids on the spectrum, and Urgent Care for
that make inclusivity possible and a staff trained
a designated quiet space, can allow individuals
with sensory processing needs to experience
a physician’s visit without fear of overload.
“The families are really appreciative, and
recognize the Kulture City logos in our waiting
room immediately,” says Dr. Carolyne Craig,
pediatrician for Urgent Care for Children.
Prominently displayed in the lobby of Urgent
Care are the Kulture City Logos, letting parents
of kids with autism spectrum needs know they
are in a safe zone. Beside the check-in desk is
a sign prompting parents to request a sensory
inclusive backpack, which is chock full of helpful
items including weighted lap pads, trinket toys to
“Every single person in our facility has been
trained by Kulture City to best serve our patients
with disabilities,” says Anna Montgomery, marketing
manager. This means their staff know what to look
for to identify children with special sensory needs
and can make those visits easier for them.
Once parents and children are assigned an exam
room, they can also request a mobile sensory unit,
nerves during wait times. It’s this simple ability to
mitigate a child’s anxiety and occupy their hands
Craig explains, “When these children are at ease
and preoccupied, it makes the examination process
easier and leads to a better experience.” As she
points out, often children on the autism spectrum
have trouble verbalizing their pains and symptoms,
so the ease of the examination process becomes
parents can certainly appreciate.