There is no question that escape rooms are popular, interesting activities for date nights, corporate team building exercises and friends and families. There is usually something in every room that will appeal to the abilities and interests of every person in the group. The question is whether or not a friend or family member with a disability will be able to derive the same level of enjoyment or even access the room. Here is what the organizer of the event needs to know before choosing a location:

Is the room accessible to people with mobility issues?

Escape rooms are often located on the upper levels of old commercial buildings that lack ramps or elevators. They may have narrow doorways, tunnels or tight areas where the clues are hidden that prevent people with crutches or chairs from navigating safely or getting through at all. The escape room games may be acceptable if only parts of the challenge are inaccessible or an alternative path is available. It is not safe for the group if getting in and out quickly (especially in the event of an emergency) is impossible.

Is it possible to enjoy the experience with a hearing or vision impairment?

There are plenty of ways for hearing or sight impaired people to be a huge benefit in many escape rooms. Some challenges start with a very dark room and someone with a visual impairment would be more comfortable seeking clues in that environment. Teammates can sign the verbal clues for hearing impaired members, who would not be distracted by the buzzers, sirens or other noises. Avoid rooms when a team member is blind if there are numerous floor hazards or the majority of the clues are visual. It may also be better to look for another escape room if signing constant verbal clues would impact the overall enjoyment for someone that is hearing impaired or the team as a whole. 

Will someone with sensory issues be safe?

Individuals with epilepsy, Asperger's and autism can enjoy many types of escape rooms, but there are some that should be avoided. Some additions to the experience like strobe lights, repetitive bells or whistles or very loud noises could be disruptive, uncomfortable or even dangerous to people with these conditions. Ask what the experience entails before arriving. Go elsewhere if they cannot accommodate a request to turn off these lights or sounds. 

How well a team does will depend on how each member of the team responds to the stimuli in the room. Make certain that all members can contribute and stay safe during the challenge. There are numerous types of rooms available today so, it should be possible to find one that will meet nearly any need. 

Contact a company like Escape Tech for more information and assistance.