Sensory-friendly market aims to be Edmonton's one-stop shop for neurodivergent customers

With dimmed lights and a quiet atmosphere, Edmonton's Neurospicy Market aims to showcase local artisans and vendors while offering a sensory-friendly environment for neurodivergent customers who want a different shopping experience.

"Neurospicy was a colloquialism that was a means of expanding on the umbrella term neurodivergent to express a more inclusive and empowering way of looking at it," market organizer and vendor Jami Thompson told CBC's Radio Active in May.

"Neurospicy sort of describes people with neurological differences such as autism, ADHD and acquired biological differences such as complex PTSD, in a way that provides a more colourful and more fun way to express our needs without it sounding demeaning or having the stigma attached." 

December's market is Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 14 and 15) at Mill Woods Town Centre.

Since starting earlier this year, the market has two distinct sections, which include sensory-seeking and sensory-avoidant areas. The first section operates as a more standard market in one section of the mall.

The sensory-avoidant area features dimmed lights and hushed conversation to allow for a more calming experience while people browse. 

The market has blossomed to include more vendors and inspired some customers to become vendors. 

Kiera BR will be vending for the first time at this weekend's market after visiting previously to purchase a gift from a local vendor.

"I never even realized that this was a niche that I and so many other people would benefit from," said BR, who founded The Peevish Possum and will be selling pottery at the market. 

"I frequent a lot of markets, but I find I do get really overwhelmed and then I have to do a lot of explaining, or I'll feel bad." 

Traditional markets, while bursting with energy, can be overwhelming for some neurodivergent people who may have specific sensitivities to environmental conditions like lights, sounds and scents for example, that detract from the experience, BR said.

"In other circumstances, that's looked as like a slight," BR said, about the stigma that can be attached.

BR said it felt reassuring to be in the company of other neurodivergent vendors who have personal experience and insight into the various ways neurodivergent people experience the world. 

Artist Mycah Darlington has run her booth, Darling Anachronism, at the market before and designed the market's present logo.

"I happened to get to know all three of the makers of the neurospicy community market and so when they said they were doing this thing, I was absolutely 100 per cent on board to come and be there," Darlington said, on the appeal of making markets more accessible.

"It gives people with neurodivergence, people who are on the spectrum, people who need a slightly different environment [the ability] to be able to still contribute … what they can do, whatever it is that they make and contribute to society in their way, and also allow shoppers to experience it."