There’s a more accessible way to enjoy some of your favorite local activities this spring and summer with Northwell’s BEE Mindful program.
Originally developed by Northwell at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in 2016, BEE Mindful is a “national award-winning program that supports neurodiverse individuals in experiencing community activities, sporting, and entertainment as well as in the healthcare setting,” according to the Northwell website.
The program is designed to make both healthcare and community venues more accessible to those with sensory sensitivities and has served as a model nationwide.
According to Jennifer Simonetti and Sharon Goodman, co-creators of the BEE Mindful program: “This family-centered approach provides an individualized experience that reduces sensory overload and fears for children and families navigating complex, noisy, and unpredictable healthcare environments.”
The program has spread across Northwell and around the country in healthcare facilities, and to community venues in the greater NYC area. Currently, there are five community partners: UBS Arena (in partnership with the NY Islanders), Jones Beach Theater (in partnership with Live Nation), Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, The Paramount and Queens County Farm Museum. The BEE Mindful team provides annual education to staff at the community partner venues.
The community venues participating in the program feature sensory bags, sensory rooms, and other programs to help those who are neurodivergent enjoy their visit. The aim is to provide access for neurodivergent children and adults all days of the year, not just on designated “sensory sensitive” days.
Each sensory room comes equipped with soft lighting, optional music/white noise, mats, beanbag chairs, tactile wall and floor panels, and sensory touch boards, among other things. There are three identical sensory rooms at UBS Arena, and one at Jones Beach Theater. Sensory bags contain a variety of fidget toys, including poppets, fidget tubes, and tangle toys, as well as sunglasses and noise-canceling headphones.
Even on a relatively small scale, the program has already been transformative. Kailee Silverman, Coordinator of Clinical Services at Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), has seen the impact of sensory rooms and other accommodations on their students in the day program, allowing students to take breaks to regulate themselves and return to the classroom ready to engage. “Initiatives like Northwell’s Bee Mindful are highly complementary to the supports we provide at DDI,” she says. “Extending sensory-friendly, emotionally supportive environments into the broader community is essential. When local businesses intentionally create inclusive spaces, it not only benefits neurodiverse individuals but strengthens the community as a whole. We welcome and encourage the development of more community-based programs that promote accessibility, comfort, and belonging for all.”
Jennifer Simonetti and Sharon Goodman agree. “Families can attend concerts and events together with greater confidence, knowing there are sensory rooms and tools to help take some time away so they can return to the event. Individuals are better able to manage noise, light, and crowd-related triggers that help to avoid the need to leave the event altogether but allow for a mental pause that allows them to return to the event leading to overall improved enjoyment and participation.”
The venues participating in the program have reported an overall smoother experience for individuals who are neurodivergent, and a reduced need to leave events early or skip them entirely. Individuals and families can ask about the BEE Mindful program at guest services and the program is advertised at each venue.
Now, thanks to the BEE Mindful program, concerts and other activities are more accessible than ever to those who are neurodivergent. Next time you attend a concert at Jones Beach Theater, or an Islanders game at UBS Arena, ask about the BEE Mindful program, and enjoy the show! For more information about the BEE Mindful program, visit https://beemindful.northwell.edu/QA/index.php.