What does sensory friendly design mean?
A sensory friendly performance means reducing stimulation challenges presented by traditional entertainment for individuals with special needs. It also means offering advanced knowledge and resources to audience members.
What are examples of accommodations?
- Lights remain on at a low level in the theater during performance
- Gradual light changes on stage
- Gradual sound changes and lower overall sound level
- No strobe lighting or lighting focused on the audience
- Resource materials to prepare for their visit
- Freedom for audience to talk and leave their seats during the performance
- Quiet areas within the theater
- Space in the theater for movement and standing
- Limited crowds
What do we offer? What do centers receive?
We work with art center programmers, marketers and tech directors on the program itself, mindful of the artistic integrity of the work. We consult with the tech, stage, sound and lighting designers to create plots that reduce stimulations. These plots can be used with one of our performances and as a guide when working with other artists and entertainers.
We provide robust pre-performance support materials to your marketing team and help craft messages that help launch “relaxed performance” series. The materials can be treated as templates and used again.
Why is this important?
Sensory Friendly Performance has been spreading across the entertainment world spearheading the inclusion of families who have been isolated from the power of the theatrical experience and community. We partner in creating a safe and welcoming environment where audiences can feel at ease from the moment they purchase a ticket, to the front doors of the theater, to the stage, and on their way home.
Our performances are welcoming to people with sensory integration needs and for parents with energetic young children. We strive to help performing arts centers create welcoming environments in which kids and their families can emote, jump up and dance around, come and go as they please, take breaks if they like, and build confidence through being included in experiencing the arts.
We also love to collaborate with non-profits and other groups who advocate for and provide assistance to performance spaces presenting Sensory Friendly Theater.
Contact Lea Cullen Boyer to learn more about our sensory friendly performances or for consulting on sensory friendly performances.
We LOVE performing for crowds and collaborating with brilliant presenters, autism friendly places and non-profits such as:
