Two's company, three's a crowd: neurodivergent participants value sensory-friendly spaces to rest after sensory overload. Photo Credit: Adobe stock/KOTO
Bruce Rose, head of audience at Live Group, shares how neurotypical
event planners can better cater to neurodivergent individuals.
Get feedback
The first thing most organisers can do is to get feedback on their
offering and action change. Events should be inclusive and
collaborative, enable people to have their say and see the change their
voice has affected. This is critical to bringing people on board. Be
caring and considerate for the full spectrum of attendees instead of
offering a one-size-fits-most solution.
A retreating room
Providing a sensory-friendly space where attendees can rest in case
of sensory overload can be helpful and simple to organise, but is often
be overlooked by planners. It should be a quiet and calm space with
dimmed lights and comfortable seating.
Clear communication
Attendees can be offered simplified versions of event communication.
Marketing talk tends to use exciting words or similar, and are
unsuitable for the neurodivergent.
- Use clear and concise language, avoid complex words or phrases.
- Break up information into small, manageable chunks – no huge paragraphs.
- Use visual aids to explain certain concepts.
- Focus on one or two follow-on actions that you need the audience to take, do not overload them.
- Do not expect an immediate response – allow processing time.
Buddy up
Introducing a buddy system that pairs attendees with a volunteer can
help them navigate the event and lessen networking challenges. Attendees
can also be given alternative participation methods: note-taking, video
recordings or live transcription. These can help attendees who struggle
with verbal communication or have difficulty with memory recall.
Advance information
Offer a schedule or agenda in advance, with expected capacities and
noise levels to help attendees better prepare and plan their day,
reducing anxiety and confusion. Something as simple as offering
ear-defenders, noise cancelling headphones or earplugs can make all the
difference in the world.
Challenging content
ADHD individuals can find content especially challenging. Offering
PowerPoint with a bionic reading font, for example, is helpful and
simple to do, yet rarely seen at events. Bionic reading works by
strategically bolding parts of words to make text easier and faster to
process by letting one’s brain fill in the rest of each word. Experts
claim that dyslexic users understand such texts more quickly, helping
them to focus.
Breaktime
Neurodivergent individuals prefer more frequent and lengthier breaks
to process the content they have just engaged with. Planners can provide
more opportunities to recharge in quiet and safe spaces.
Online events
The digital world allows neurodiverse individuals the opportunity of
greater control of their experience. Having standard captions, volume
control, and text-only networking – these are huge benefits for people
who dislike the noise and thunder world of in-person events. Thus,
online offerings do provide a refuge from big noises, wow factors and
intense networking.
Hybrid events are enabling neurodivergent and neurotypical people to
be on a level playing field, as both groups are able to interact and
have their say in a way that suits them both.
Broadcasting events
While the “flash and bang” stream have a place in a traditional
broadcast, it is advisable to create a second stream that includes the
following:
· Removing background music
· Offering a dark-mode viewing page
· Removing on-screen information other than the speaker
· Providing bigger captions and louder speaker volume
· Removing flashing lights.
Said Rose: “At Live Group, we even change the breaks in these
streams, removing all information other than a clear instruction to take
a break and when to be back. We’ve also started experimenting with
making these features modular – for example, allowing all users to
remove background music or enter dark mode.
What language you use to describe the streams is also important and
should be obvious for viewers. For example, you could use 'Broadcast’
for the main stream, and ‘Accessible/Inclusive/All-abilities Broadcast’ –
or even ‘Everyone’s Channel’ for your second.”
Source: M&IT