Promoting inclusion and accessibility is the forefront of the mission of Fairhaven Foundation. Individuals with sensory processing challenges often find it difficult to participate in community events. This can include a multitude of challenges including: touch, movement, smell, taste, vision and hearing. The Foundation hosts several large community events throughout the year at Eastwood Field. To ensure the families we serve, as well as those in our tri-county area, can visit the stadium with comfort in knowing the space is fully accessible, we partnered with Trumbull County Board of DD, DeSalvo Construction Company, Baker Bednar Snyder & Associates, Inc. and multiple community businesses to build a sensory/calming room. Scrappy’s Safe Haven will offer a calming space for anyone that needs it during their visit to the stadium.
Features of the space include: dimmed lighting, a sensory activity wall, a calming hurricane light tube station, bean bag chair, swivel globe chair, parent/caregiver seating, and a tv with silent live feed of the game. The walls of the sensory room have been carefully insulated to reduce the noise of the stadium. Sound absorbing wall panels work to further reduce noise as well as offer sensory input. The space also includes a welcome area for individuals and families to use in transitioning in and out of the sensory room. In addition to Scrappy’s Safe Haven, we are partnering with TCBDD to install a universal changing table and Hoyer lift in the stadium.
The ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled to take place on DD Awareness Night at Eastwood Field. This special evening is made possible through a collaboration between Fairhaven Foundation, Trumbull, Columbiana, and Mahoning County Boards of DD. The MV Scrappers will be wearing a special edition jersey that promotes the message of we’re “Better Together" during the game. 30 limited edition jerseys will be auctioned off to fans to benefit The Fairhaven Foundation. 1400 individuals from the three agencies will participate in various activities on game night, including: The National Anthem (sung by Nikko Cappitte, TCBDD), God Bless America (sung by Jeanie Arnotto, CCBDD), throwing out the first pitch of the game, and the Field of Dreams experience.
