Lewis: Changing Hospital Experiences
Lewis improves hospitals for neurodiverse children through sensory changes.
Meet Lewis, a finalist for the Make a Difference Young Hero Award 2025.
Lewis, a 14-year-old neurodiverse young person, has been working with Alder Hey Children鈥檚 Hospital to make the environment more sensory friendly. Drawing from his own experiences with sensory processing disorder, Lewis highlighted the challenges children face with noise, smells, textures, crowds, and visual distractions in hospital settings.
Working closely with clinicians, occupational therapists, and even the hospital trust board, Lewis helped introduce sensory boxes to outpatient departments, filled with items such as fidget toys, ear defenders, sunglasses, and various textures. He has presented to staff across the hospital to explain why some children struggle with touch and sensory input, helping to improve accessibility and healthcare experiences.
Lewis鈥檚 dedication ensures that children and young people can access appointments with less stress, leading to better health outcomes now and in the future.
