On 4 April 2026, Brazilian airport-operator Motiva inaugurated a new multisensory room at Goiânia’s Santa Genoveva Airport, joining similar facilities already open at Belém, Palmas and Uberlândia. The initiative coincided with World Autism Awareness Day and forms part of a broader effort by regulators and concessionaires to meet National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) Resolution 556/2025, which obliges all airports handling more than two million passengers a year to provide calming spaces for neuro-divergent travelers by 2027. The rooms are fitted with adjustable lighting, tactile walls, noise-cancelling partitions and plush seating. Passengers on the autism spectrum—and any companion—can request access through the airport’s assistance desk or via the Motiva App up to 48 hours before travel. Once inside, flight-information displays and a direct hotline to the airline’s special-services desk ensure that users do not miss boarding calls. From a global-mobility perspective, the new standard eases corporate duty-of-care obligations for businesses relocating employees with autistic dependants. HR teams can now factor the availability of sensory rooms into assignment preparation check-lists and travel-risk assessments. Travel-management companies also say the service helps them comply with ISO 31030 guidelines on inclusive and accessible travel. The roll-out comes as Brazil embraces Universal Design principles across transport hubs. In 2025, GRU Airport inaugurated a pilot ‘quiet corridor’ connecting security to the international gates. The Ministry of Human Rights has since signalled that the feature may become compulsory at all category 1 airports. Stakeholders welcome the move but warn that staff training and consistent service protocols are essential. Advocacy groups are calling for an ANAC monitoring tool that publishes monthly performance metrics so that passengers can compare facilities and submit feedback.
Source: R7 – Prisma column
