Meeting the Needs of those Living with Autism Across the Lifespan 2

Autism Awareness Day at Citi Field! We hope that this “Guide to the Game” will make you more comfortable about your big day at the ball park. As you will see, there’s no reason to be scared or anxious. Mets games are supposed to be lots of fun! Keep clicking to find out more about what you can expect on May 6th at Citi Field…

To get to the Mets game, you and your family might choose to: Drive to the stadium If you do, be prepared to sit in some traffic. Lots of other Mets fans will be driving to the game too! Once you get there, you might need to walk across the big, busy parking lot. Be careful and keep your eyes up! Holding hands is a good idea here.

Take it to the stop that says: To get to the Mets game, you and your family might choose to: Take the 7 Train (Subway) OR The Long Island Rail Road Take it to the stop that says: Remember to “watch the gap” when you step off the train!

About the Subway station: This can be a loud, crowded, and busy place. And sometimes the sound can echo. So if those kinds of things bother your ears, be prepared before you get off the train. It’s ok to use earplugs or earphones. And keep your head up and stay close to your family and friends. Look for the sign that says, “Mets Baseball” - that’s the way to the stadium! 6

Citi Field – Stadium of the New York Mets! Here’s what Citi Field looks like from the outside. This is where you’ll be spending your fun day with friends and family on Autism Awareness Day!

Outside of Citi Field Pony rides! Art! Games! The Mets have decided to make Autism Awareness Day a very special day for you and your family & friends! That means you might see some things that normally are NOT at Citi Field. This might include… Pony rides! Art! Games! 8

Time to Go Inside the Stadium! Before you can enter Citi Field, you’ll need to do 2 things: 1. Go through security The security guard will touch you lightly on your pockets. That’s ok! He will also ask to look inside your bag (if you bring one). No big deal. This will be faster and easier if you are ready for him – watch the person in line in front of you. There might be a line to get through security. It doesn’t take long. Just try to be patient and stay calm. Fun is just ahead! 9

Time to Go Inside the Stadium! 2. Show your ticket to the ticket-taker Now it’s time to go inside! 10

Inside Citi Field – Before the Game There will be signs that tell you where you to go inside the stadium. You and your family & friends can decide where you want to go first. You’ll be able to see the field from almost anywhere in the stadium. So you can walk around and check out different spots without missing the game!

Inside Citi Field – Before the Game Sights: There will be LOTS of Mets fans at Citi Field! Most of them will be very friendly, but not all of them. Even though everyone is rooting for the same team, that doesn’t mean that it’s safe to talk to strangers by yourself or walk away from your family and friends. Be careful! People will be walking around before the game buying food and checking out the different parts of the stadium. You will see people of all different ages, sizes, shapes, colors, and abilities. You don’t need to ask anyone about how they look.

Inside Citi Field – Before the Game More Sights: Most fans will be wearing the Mets’ colors: orange and blue. Lots of them will be wearing Mets hats and baseball shirts or jerseys. That’s cool! It’s a way of showing other people that they like the Mets! You’ll also notice the huge scoreboard in the center-field part of the ball park. It’s got an awesome video screen! Plus, it will help you know who is up at-bat and which team is winning. They might show instant replays here too.

Inside Citi Field – Before the Game Sounds: You’ll hear music playing through the speakers around the stadium. Don’t worry, it won’t be too loud. You might like some of the songs! The scoreboard will also be playing some advertisements – like the ones you see on TV. You will also hear a kind of low murmur of the crowd. At first it will be quiet, but it will grow louder as more and more fans show up. It’s ok to cover your ears when it gets too loud.

Inside Citi Field – Before the Game Sounds: You will also hear airplanes flying near the stadium. Don’t worry, they are not allowed to fly too close to Citi Field during Mets games. So you might not see them, but you will be able to hear them. It’s ok - they’re just taking people to and from LaGuardia Airport - maybe on vacation!

Inside Citi Field – Before the Game Smells: You will smell lots of different foods throughout the stadium. Some of them you will like, and some of them you may not like. That’s ok. You can always ask if you can move away from a bad smell. Some of the foods you can expect to smell are hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, sausage & peppers, nachos, french fries, and beer.

Inside Citi Field – Before the Game Quiet/Safe Zones Since there will be lots of sounds, sights, smells, tastes and feelings that you will experience at Citi Field, you may start to feel overwhelmed and very sensitive. That’s ok! No problem. Just look for signs that say “Quiet Zone” or “Safe Zone.” These are places inside the stadium where you can go with your family or friends to take a break from it all. You can go there to calm down and be by yourself for a while. It will be darker and much quieter there. You won’t see the crowd either. It will be a safe and private space where you can go to relax your mind and body. It’s a good idea to ask to go there when you’re feeling anxious.

Inside Citi Field – Before the Game Attention Parents: The NY Mets have a fan safety program new this year… [Christina add info re: ID bracelet program]

Inside Citi Field – Before the Game The game is about to start - Time to find your seat! Make sure you have your ticket. That will tell you and the usher where you’re supposed to sit. There are 3 important numbers on your ticket: a section, a row, and a seat number. The most important number to remember (in case you lose your ticket or get separated) is your section number. But keep your ticket in your pocket just in case.

Game Time - Play Ball! Before every baseball game, someone always sings our National Anthem. The announcer will ask everyone to stand up and remove our hats (if you are wearing one). Then the song will start. The singer will use a microphone - it won’t be too loud, but it’s ok to cover your ears if you need to. It’s also great to sing along!

Game Time - Play Ball! One more thing before the game starts: someone needs to throw out the first pitch! This might be a celebrity, or an important person, or even a child. You can cheer them on!

During the Game The announcer will announce the name and position of every player as they come up to bat. Each player will also walk up to the plate while one of his favorite songs plays over the speakers. Sometimes this music can be a bit loud, but it only lasts for about 10 seconds. It might be one of your favorite songs too!

During the Game Each inning has 2 halves: one for the visiting team to have a chance at-bat, and one for the Mets’ chance to hit. Both teams will try to score as many runs as they can every inning before they get 3 outs. You can cheer for both teams. But most fans at Citi Field will only be cheering for the Mets! Cheering can be yelling things like, “Let’s Go Mets!” and “We want a hit!” or just clapping your hands.

When Most Fans Cheer the Loudest Homeruns! Strikeouts! Great Plays! Plays at the Plate!

When Most Fans Cheer the Loudest The most exciting play - and when Citi Field will be the loudest - might be when the Mets hit a home run! That means that a Mets batter hits the ball out of the park! When the Mets hit a home run, the Big Apple in the outfield will rise up so everyone can see it. Check it out now so you know what it looks like: When this happens, everyone will stand up and cheer. You should too! And don’t worry - it won’t be loud for too long.

During the Game Sometimes you will hear sound effects that come out of the speakers around Citi Field. They might sound like hands clapping or like a trumpet tooting. They can sometimes seem loud to us. It’s ok because they last less than one minute. The Mets do this when they want their fans (like you!) to start cheering louder. They might want the fans to yell, “Let’s Go Mets! Let’s Go Mets!” or “Chaaaarge!”

During the Game You will also see and hear lots of vendors. These are people who walk around Citi Field selling treats like food, drinks, and souvenirs. All of these things cost money. It you want to buy something, try yelling out “Hey!” or waving to them. Or you can ask for help from someone you’re sitting with.

During the Game Bored? Need a break from the game? Check this out! Centered around Mr. Met's Kiddie Field, the 2K Sports FanFest features a batting cage, base running, video game kiosks, a live DJ and more! Mr. Met has also been known to make a daily appearance.

Mr. Met Mr. Met is the very friendly mascot of the NY Mets. He might look strange to some people, but he is always nice to all fans. He is also very quiet - he never says a word! But he will wave his arms and give lots of hi-fives!

The 7th Inning Stretch Halfway through the 7th inning, all of the fans will be given a break. Most fans like to stand up and stretch their arms and legs. You will hear a song play through the speakers called “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The words will be shown up on the video screen. Lots of people like to sing along!

The most important thing to remember while you are at Citi Field is this: Mets games are meant to be fun! You should be comfortable and enjoying yourself with your friends & family. If there is a problem or you feel anxious or frustrated, please tell someone. Ask for help. It’s ok!

Questions? We are here to help Please feel free to email us at familyservices@autismspeaks.org Or call us 1 888 Autism2 Or visit the New York Mets at their website: newyork.mets.mlb.com