Sensory-Friendly Performances

A practical guide to making your next performance inclusive and sensory-friendly

What you’ll learn
Understand the sensory experience for people with sensory differences in the audience
Learn about the benefits of hosting sensory-friendly performances, both for the audience and for those putting on the show
Apply strategies to improve the sensory experience in your venue and show
Review strategies that every member of a production can put into place to make the experience more sensory-inclusive for audience members
Familiarize yourself with principles of universal and accessible design to support creating a more inclusive environment during performances

Requirements
No prior experience needed

Description
Welcome to our course on sensory-friendly performances! In this course, we aim to give you the knowledge and resources to implement sensory-friendly practices with your team. This course is meant for anyone who works in the performing arts, including managers, directors, technicians, designers, front of house staff, and performers. For anyone who is part of the team responsible for putting on a performance or show, this course is for you.
Course content includes the following topics
An overview of sensory sensitivity and overload, and why it matters for you and your audience
How to adjust the sensory environment before a performance to improve the experience for attendees
Managing your schedule to implement sensory-friendly features for each of the 8 senses
Ways that all staff members can help to create a more sensory-inclusive environment
Principles of accessible and universal design
During this course, you will learn specific, actionable strategies that can be put into place to improve the sensory experience of attending a performance at your venue. We provide ways that every member of a production can support more inclusive practices when hosting a performance and support audience members who experience sensory differences. We offer more general strategies to improve the overall experience for audience members, as well as measures that are specific to each of the eight senses.
This course is about more than just implementing inclusive practices at your venue – it’s about fostering empathy and understanding. Our course provides the knowledge and tools needed to make the audience experience a little more comfortable and inclusive for all sorts of attendees. Enroll today and learn how to improve the experience of performing arts more inclusive and accepting of individuals with sensory sensitivities.
Who this course is for
Anyone who is part of the team responsible for putting on a performance or show
Musicians
Performers
Actors
Dancers
Theatre Directors
Theatre/Venue Staff
Entertainers