Media Relations Case Sharing: “Bus A” Returns to the AIA Carnival as Hong Kong's First Sensory-Inclusive Bus

Prologue Editorial
Jan 26
3 min read

For many visitors, carnival is an event filled with enthusiastic crowds, thrilling rides, dazzling light effects, and pounding beats. But for the neurodiverse community, the same environment can easily trigger sensory overload. This year, Q Plus A Art Foundation (Q+A), an inclusive arts group, has further equipped “Bus A” into a sensory haven, returning to the AIA Carnival with acclaim, creating a safe space for “noise reduction, regulation, and restart” for the neurodiverse community and all who need it.

Team Prologue continued to support Q+A on media relations this year, including press release distribution, organizing a small-group media tour, and arranging a series of follow-up feature interviews, which successfully attracted coverage from major media outlets, including Ming Pao, Now TV, and HOY TV.

“It is an honor for ‘Bus A’ to join the carnival again, offering the public a tranquil space to reset even amid the bustle. This year, the interior of ‘Bus A’ has been upgraded with more sensory supports and interactive facilities. Through simulated experiences and inclusive workshops, visitors can gain a deeper, first-hand understanding of the challenges faced by the neurodiverse community and reflect on how to create a truly inclusive environment.” —— Ms Amy CHONG, Curator and Founder of Q Plus A Art Foundation

Ms Amy CHONG, Curator and Founder of Q Plus A Art Foundation, hopes that “Bus A” will facilitate a truly inclusive society.

The upgraded “Bus A” brings “sensory support from therapy rooms” into one of the city's liveliest community settings. On the lower deck, visitors could engage in a “sensory modulation” music listening experience and a “tactile sensory wall,” providing the brain with organized auditory stimuli and varied tactile input, which would help ease sensory overload and allow visitors to safely release excess energy.

On the upper deck, it featured a quiet room equipped with weighted blankets and bean bag chairs that provide deep pressure touch to soothe the nervous system. Visitors could also use a balance board to regulate their emotions. The lighting on the bus is fully adjustable and there is soundproofing to reduce visual and auditory overload, providing the brain with a chance to rest.

The “tactile sensory wall” at the end of the lower deck features different textured areas, which provide tactile and proprioceptive (muscle and joint sense) input ranging from soft to resistant. Visitors can safely release excess energy by touching the wall.

“We hope that when people leave the bus and return to the carnival, they will feel, ‘I can still enjoy the lively atmosphere, but I also have ways to stay calm amid the bustle,’ thereby helping to make Hong Kong a more sensory-friendly city.” — Ms Amy CHONG, Curator and Founder of Q Plus A Art Foundation

Beyond sensory support, “Bus A” also arranged regular on-duty roles for neurodivergent individuals, including people with autism, providing them with work experience and opportunities to interact with the public. Q+A hopes to offer stronger support to the neurodivergent community while extending this care to the wider public by addressing everyone’s physical and mental needs.