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 audienceHow to adjust the sensory environment before a performance to improve the experience for attendeesManaging your schedule to implement sensory-friendly features for each of the 8 sensesWays that all staff members can help to create a more sensory-inclusive environmentPrinciples of accessible and universal designDuring 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.

Overview

Section 1: Before You Begin

Lecture 1 Welcome

Lecture 2 Five Ways Sensory Friendly Performances Are a Win for Your Venue or Performance

Lecture 3 Three Myths About Sensory Friendly Performances Busted!

Lecture 4 What’s In It for My Audience?

Lecture 5 Assessing Your Venue And Performance

Lecture 6 Who Plays a Part in Making a Sensory-Friendly Performance Work?

Section 2: Planning Phase

Lecture 7 Project Planning Guidelines

Lecture 8 Eight-Month Timeline of Activities

Lecture 9 Eight-week Timeline of Activities

Section 3: The Pre-performance Phase

Lecture 10 Show Accommodations

Lecture 11 Staff Accommodations

Lecture 12 The Principles of Universal Design

Lecture 13 The 3 Tiers of Accessibility

Lecture 14 Sensory-Friendly Kits

Lecture 15 Accessible Design

Lecture 16 Visual Stories

Lecture 17 Marketing Content

Lecture 18 Ticketing Considerations

Lecture 19 Implementation

Section 4: Showtime Phase

Lecture 20 What Staff Should Expect

Lecture 21 Performer Briefing

Lecture 22 Proactive Troubleshooting

Lecture 23 Housekeeping Items

Section 5: Post-Perforrmance Phase

Lecture 24 It's Curtains!

Lecture 25 Gathering Feedback

Section 6: Thank you

Lecture 26 Thank you

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