Sensory Friendly Festivals
By Sensory Integration Education, 25 June 2019
Can there really be sensory friendly festivals? For individuals with sensory integration difficulties, (sometimes referred to as sensory processing disorder), attending a festival or concert can seem daunting. The crowds, restricted entry points, sound levels, flashing lights, unexpected events, large venues and different smells might feel too overwhelming a challenge.
But event organisers are increasingly looking at enabling access to people with sensory challenges, for example, here’s an encouraging account of how the O2 concert venue in London provided wonderful support for a young girl with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) attending a Linkin Park gig with her mother.
Alternatively, there are a number of events specifically designed for people with conditions that often coexist with sensory challenges, including ASD. A quick internet search found: A Different World Festival 2019, Spectrum Autism Friendly Festival, Spectrum - The Autism Festival, Inclusion Festival, and The AWESOME International Arts Festival for Bright Young Things.
Top tips for attending a festival or concert with a young person with sensory issues
Contact the venue in advance to ask what support is available.
Prepare by looking at images or videos of what the event might look and sound like in advance.
Ask if the venue provides a social story which is a printable, visual presentation of what to expect at the event, eg, here is a social story for an Inclusion Festival in the USA.
Request access to the viewing platforms for disabled patrons as these will be less crowded.
Check with the venue in advance what can and can’t be taken onto the festival/concert ground so there’s no disappointment when something is refused or confiscated
Make use of designated calm areas, scheduling in regular breaks.
Taking into account individual needs, pack items such as ear plugs, noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, fidgets, weighted blanket, familiar toys etc.
Make it acceptable to leave before the event finishes.
