Advocating for a Neurodiverse Audience

Abstract

In 2021, I was an actor in a sensory immersive piece at LIU Post titled Branching Out. It was devised with a neurodiverse audience in mind (“neurodiverse” being used as a term for those with neurological differences that are oftentimes put at a deficit because of society’s unfair emphasis on ability). However, this was the first time I ever encountered sensory-friendly theatre, and began questioning the lack of audience inclusivity on Broadway. Upon further research, I learned that in 2022, Broadway’s Theatre Development Fund (TDF, 2022) provided only 3 “autism-friendly” Broadway shows. In response to this, I interviewed 3 women who are spearheading accessibility initiatives on Broadway (Courtney J. Boddie, Jennifer DiBella, and Lisa Carling) to discover what can feasibly be done to diversify theatre spaces. I am proposing a Universal Design for Theatregoing: one that is representative, inclusive, accessible, and ever-changing with research and new technology. This design is inspired by the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework (CAST, 2018) that is commonly used in Educational Theatre to ensure that every individual learner receives a meaningful and enriching educational experience. Akin to UDL, the Universal Design for Theatregoing adjusts the audience environment so that audiences may enjoy their theatre experience regardless of ability and without judgement.