3 Neuro-Inclusive Ideas For Your Next Festival
Event planners worldwide are beginning to infuse their festivals with special requirements to accommodate their neurodivergent community. These plans are created to make the event experience for community members with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and other disorders as enjoyable as their neurotypical participants. Below are a few ideas to help you get started:
#1. Include or design quiet zones & map it out!
Find, or create, a location at your festival where there is a lot of noise reduction and designate this as your “quiet zone.” Attendees who are sensitive to noise will be able to use this area to regroup when they feel overwhelmed. Consider offering headphones for participants to listen to music, block additional noises, or even listen to scheduled activities online, away from groups of people and harsh lighting. The bottom line is, that it’s best to give choices!
Tip: Brainstorm with your team to see how you can best accommodate your neurodivergent participants, and be sure to map it out, so it is easy to locate!
#2. Offer a hybrid option.
When choosing between attending an event in person or virtually, hybrid events allow neurodivergent participants a choice that will best serve their individual requirements and coping mechanisms in social settings. You can even go above and beyond by offering scheduled sessions as a hybrid option where participants could tune in from the quiet zone, their home, or even their car if a break is needed!
#3. Create a communication plan that allows for predictability.
Sometimes new is scary! Predictability is preferred by many neurodivergent people in order to cope and perform. By including accessibility in all of your festival communication materials, such as signage, agendas, and site plans, this need can be satisfied. Make sure your resources are well written and easily accessible.
Scheduling Tip: Activity schedules created for neuro-inclusive events should also be straightforward (drop the jargon) and contain all the pertinent elements, such as session times and details and where to go.
Need help with this? Let's chat!
Want to learn more about mapping out quiet zones, offering hybrid options, mass messaging, and inclusive scheduling at your next festival? Chat with Eventeny at booths 308 & 310 here at FFEA!
In the meantime, learn more about Eventeny here!