The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced the opening of a second sensory room at Newark Liberty International Airport’s award-winning Terminal A, completing a nation-leading, seamless travel experience from curb to gate for neurodivergent travelers and travelers on the autism spectrum. The new post-security screening sensory room complements Terminal A’s existing pre-screening sensory room and assisted screening services through the TSA Cares program.
The pair of sensory rooms add to Terminal A’s state-of-the-art passenger amenities such as dozens of national and local dining options, local artwork, a children’s play space, a children’s lending library curated by a local fifth grader, digital technology and other customer-first features that helped earn the terminal its world-class status in 2024 when named as the best new airport terminal in the world by Skytrax, a preeminent global airport evaluation firm. Skytrax also gave the terminal a rare 5-star rating in 2024 following a detailed audit of the terminal’s facilities, operations and customer service in 2023.
Sensory rooms elevate the customer service experience by providing a peaceful refuge from what can often be an overwhelming, overstimulating environment for neurodivergent and special needs passengers. Additionally, a new meditation room and other accessibility features are also now available at Terminal A, reinforcing the Port Authority’s commitment to inclusive and comfortable travel. Across the agency’s unprecedented redevelopments of its major airports, it has prioritized creating a seamless, relaxed and accessible travel experience while accommodating passengers of all needs and abilities.
“We’re proud that Newark Liberty’s Terminal A now sets a new standard for accessibility and comfort in air travel,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “With sensory rooms on both sides of screening, along with dedicated TSA support and new amenities like a meditation room and business center, we’re reinforcing our commitment to making air travel more welcoming, more comfortable, and more accessible for everyone who passes through our terminals.”
“For families like mine who have experienced firsthand the challenges of traveling with a neurodivergent loved one, this kind of supportive environment opens up new worlds,” said Port Authority Vice Chairman Jeffrey Lynford. “These sensory rooms, and the care that went into designing them, can make the difference between a stressful journey and an empowering one. They allow families to travel with greater ease, confidence, and joy, creating opportunities for connection and exploration that might have once felt out of reach.”
“This innovative post-screening sensory room, including its aircraft cabin replica, exemplifies our commitment to designing airports that serve the needs of every traveler,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “As we redevelop our airports into world-class facilities, accessibility, comfort, and seamless travel are at the heart of every decision we make. These new amenities reflect our mission to deliver dignity, ease, and peace of mind for all passengers.”
“As the terminal operator, we’re always looking for ways to enhance the passenger experience,” said Michael Kunz, CEO of Munich Airport NJ LLC. “From art displays and music to diverse retail options and new amenities, we’re committed to creating a more welcoming journey. With the addition of a sensory room, a business center and a meditation room, Newark Liberty’s Terminal A is now even more inclusive. We are grateful for our visionary partners at the Port Authority for designing and making these amenities available to our passengers.”
“There’s a tremendous number of people – not just those who have autism, but their caregivers, their grandparents, their friends, anybody who might want to travel with them through hubs like Newark Airport everyday – that’s the number of people that when you do something like this, you are changing their lives,” said Eliza Bozenski, chief development officer of the Anderson Center for Autism. “You’re giving them an opportunity to leave their homes, where they often feel very isolated in the safest space they can stay in for a number of reasons.”
The new 1,400-square-foot post-screening sensory room immerses travelers in a tranquil underwater-inspired setting, which is a nod to New Jersey’s coastal heritage and vibrant aquatic life. It features a fish tank, interactive bubble tubes and calming sea life projections across aqua-blue floors and walls. The space also provides a relevant learning opportunity for families through an aircraft cabin replica that simulates flight through video, which allows travelers to become familiar with the boarding and in-flight experience. The cabin includes replica seats, seatbelts, overhead bins and windows with digital displays simulating an in-flight view.
This space complements Terminal A’s pre-screening sensory room, which opened in December 2023 and offers a peaceful forested riverbank environment. Both sensory rooms were developed in consultation with the Anderson Center for Autism, which also trained airport staff on best practices for engaging with neurodivergent travelers. Travelers can move from the pre-screening room directly to a dedicated TSA Cares screening lane staffed by specially trained personnel, and then into the post-screening sensory room in just a few steps, providing a seamless, supportive experience within the airport. Travelers can request assistance through TSA Cares by calling 855-787-2227 or submit an online request at least three days ahead of a flight.
Terminal A has also opened a new meditation room adjacent to the post-screening sensory room. Designed for prayer, reflection, or quiet contemplation, the 1,400-square-foot space offers minimalist décor, private areas, and ablution facilities. Additionally, a business center with computers, printers, and other resources is located nearby in the terminal.
The Port Authority has prioritized accessible and inclusive design across its commercial airports and terminals, with the new terminals at JFK Airport to also feature new sensory rooms. At Newark Liberty, Terminal C also offers an interfaith meditation space. Other Port Authority airports also offer meditation space and sensory facilities for neurodivergent travelers, such as a prayer area at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 1 and a sensory pod and interfaith chapel at Terminal 4. At LaGuardia Airport, Terminal B includes a prayer and meditation space with a calming water feature, while Terminal C offers a post-screening sensory room and chapel, along with other accessibility resources across both airports in New York. The agency’s commercial airports also participate in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard program, which offers a sunflower lanyard upon request of a traveler to discreetly notify airport staff of invisible disabilities and the need for additional patience and support. Lanyards are available at terminal welcome centers and information booths. Lanyards are available at terminal welcome centers and information booths.
