Making the arts sector more inclusive, smashing autism myths, one event at a time

ABC NEWS (Australia)

For many people living with autism, doing to a concert or the theatre is a no go. Bright lights can be confronting, loud noises and quick temperature changes. Now, a project led by autistic people is running inclusive events and training staff. At some of the country’s biggest cultural hubs.

Transcript

00:00As a family, being together is our favourite thing.

00:10We built a lot of Lego in this house.

00:16We love board games.

00:19We did it.

00:20There's a bit of baking that goes on in this house, but the big obsession is the dog.

00:24We love our dog.

00:26The Lobseys' house is a hub of activity.

00:31When we're home and it's just us, that's the happy place.

00:35The biggest thing is we can be ourselves.

00:39Everyone in this family is autistic and highly sensitive to the stimulus around them.

00:45Mum Madeline says leaving the house has always been a struggle.

00:50Not because the family doesn't want to, but because the world doesn't cater for their

00:54sensory needs.

00:58Anywhere with a crowd can be a challenge, including the supermarket.

01:04If you think about all the different music that's playing in the background, and then

01:09all the voices that are going, and then all the beeping of machinery, tins hitting cupboards,

01:20often it's fluorescent light and very bright.

01:25You can go through lots of temperatures.

01:27You know that experience where you walk past the breezes and it's cold?

01:32My heart rate's really high.

01:34I start getting lots of tension in my body.

01:38I'll often get headaches really fast too because the light will impact me so much.

01:46When you know yourself as someone who's intelligent, and then you're confused by what seems like

01:52the most basic thing, that's really frustrating.

01:55And I nearly left twice at shows.

01:58Madeline's been a director and actor for decades, and knows what it's like when venues don't

02:04cater for autistic people.

02:07To change that, she's working with the A-List Hub, an organisation creating events at some

02:12of Australia's biggest cultural institutions, and training staff in how to support the community.

02:18There are many venues that do things like relaxed performances and quiet hours.

02:26How do we go to the next evolution where that's just standard practice, and my family doesn't

02:32have to go at a certain time on a certain day to be able to experience the arts?

02:42It is a complete myth that autistic people, like myself, are not social beings.

02:46We just socialise in a way that is different to what you would expect.

02:52Artist Bec Street has been working as a consultant on the project.

02:56Today she's at a sensory-friendly dance workshop in Sydney.

03:00The size of the class has been reduced, and a number of other adjustments have been made.

03:05So we've set it up so that it's nice and dim in here, we've turned all the lights off actually.

03:11Bec says making spaces autism-friendly isn't just about restrictions.

03:16It's also about creating what she calls sensory joy.

03:20We have lots of opportunities in these spaces to play and experiment with different materials.

03:27There's just so much joy to be found in the senses.

03:31Those behind the project know change won't happen overnight, but they're confident their

03:36work will put the arts sector on a path to inclusion, one venue at a time.

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