Each year, the Villanova Fall Festival is filled with competitive spirits, high energy and much enthusiasm. However, at times, this environment may overstimulate or overwhelm some of the athletes.
The low-sensory spaces are the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee’s way to help.
“The purpose of them is to provide a quiet, low stimulating space for athletes and parents and coaches and even the volunteers to escape the busyness, the hustle and bustle of Fall Fest,” said Ella Bergschneider, Chair of the DEIA Committee.
“Those are really excellent,” said Jane Butler, 2025 Villanova University SPO Festival Director. “Particularly among a population of people with disabilities, we find that there is a really wide range of sensory needs. And this is something that, like, I’ve noticed at Fall Fest. I’ve also noticed it [while] working at home with people with disabilities. Everybody’s sensory needs are different…We have worked really hard over the years to bring a lot of low-sensory spaces to Villanova, and so that athletes at every competition have somewhere they can take a break.”
These spaces will be stocked with items to encourage a calming experience. Participants who visit a low-sensory space may find fidget toys, ear plugs, noise-cancelling headphones, coloring materials, blankets and sound machines. At least one volunteer will be stationed in each space at all times, providing the athletes with someone they can talk to if needed.
There will be multiple low-sensory spaces dispersed throughout Fall Fest, which will be strategically placed to be accessible near a competition venue. They will be located at Austin Hall, the Connelly Center, the Jake Nevin Field House, Pike Field, the Villanova Stadium and at Cabrini College’s campus. The tent placed at the Stadium is a newly-added location.
“It’s sort of a way to increase accessibility on campus in ways that you might not always think about,” Butler said.
In addition, the Allegheny Health Network (AHN) will host a Pop-Up AHN Chill Room in Driscoll Hall. The room will be utilized in collaboration with Healthy Athletes.
Healthy Athletes is an opportunity for athletes to partake in a free physical health screening and receive health information to improve their health and overall well-being.
The Pop-Up AHN Chill Room will be staffed with two mental health professionals to ensure the athletes’ mental wellbeing during the screening.
“That’s going to be really cool because it’s going to give athletes an opportunity, which we’ve never done before, during when they go through one of their rotations for Healthy Athletes, which can be a lot because you’re getting your eyes checked, you’re getting your feet checked, and there’s so many people in there,” Bergschneider said. “For some athletes, it’s, like, the first time they’re getting healthcare for the year. And so, we’re also putting in a low-sensory space there just in case that process gets overwhelming.”
While the low-sensory zones are not a new addition to Villanova’s Fall Fest, their name was only created in 2024. Before that, these spaces were referred to as “Inclusion Zones.” The spaces were renamed by the 2024 DEIA Committee who agreed the language of “Inclusion Zone” could be misleading.
“We felt that [the name change] was more clear of what the purpose of them [low-sensory spaces] were because the whole Fall Fest is supposed to be inclusive,” Bergschneider said. “And so, the [DEIA] Committee prior changed it to low-sensory space, and I think it was a great move.”
Bergschneider also noted how hard the current DEIA Committee has worked to ensure the athletes’ comfortability in creating these spaces.
“We’ve tried to be really thoughtful about all the athletes’ Fall Fest experience and how they can have something to escape to,” Bergschneider said.
Throughout Fall Fest, these low sensory zones will allow athletes the chance to relax and recharge in an environment they feel comfortable in.
