Neurodiversity Celebration Week’s Post

Throughout last week’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week, I saw posts discussing neurodiversity in the workplace, and how to attract and engage neurodiverse team members. Less discussed seemed to be the needs of our neurodiverse audiences. With an estimated 15-20% of the population thought to be neurodivergent, it makes up a substantial portion of the audiences we aim to engage with in our marketing and communications. Still a relatively new topic to the diversity and inclusion space, there are nevertheless cultural institutions making strides in this area that I wanted to recognise. Three great examples are below: The Royal Academy of Arts was one of the first places in London that I saw produce sensory maps of the buildings. The sensory maps include bright, dark, quiet, and noisy areas marked out. It is helpful for audiences with audio-sensory processing challenges (common in both autism and ADHD) to navigate the space. With vast spaces, often made of stone and marble, sound can be very pronounced, so having this asset available online can assist in planning a visit in advance with less stress. In the theatre space, The Young Vic is a great example of prioritising accessibility. In addition to giving away substantial numbers of free tickets to local communities, The Young Vic lists out its Access Performances by audience need. The usual programming runs alongside performances with audio description, BSL, captioned performances, relaxed performances, sensory adapted and sound enhanced performances. These are all listed alongside the information for audiences with assistance animals, minimising the stigma of diverse audience access needs. Across the pond, I was lucky enough to visit Space Center Houston, with the American Museum Membership Conference in 2023 (pictured, me, very sweaty). It had been on my ‘hit’ list for years, and it did not disappoint. The Director explained that Space Center Houston had been working to ensure that it is an accessible and accepting destination. As a result of its work, the science and space exploration learning center is the first of its kind to be designated as a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).  This involves rigorous training for staff, inspections, and improvements to better welcome and accommodate guests with autism spectrum disorder and other sensory and cognitive challenges. It is considered hugely important internally and considered to be a central part of activity decision-making. There are some interesting and exciting opportunities to help our neurodiverse audiences feel welcome and included into our shared cultural spaces. By shaking off the old perception of being elitist and inaccessible, arts and heritage institutions hold an opportunity to lead the way in diversity and inclusion. Let’s hope to see many more fine examples of accommodating and engaging neurodiverse audiences in the months to come. 😊