On Broadway, A New Effort To Include Those With Autism

Sensory-friendly Broadway shows have been offered for years, but a new initiative aims to include and accommodate people with autism in regular performances held on some of the theater’s most prominent stages.

The effort known as Seats on the spectrum will offer tickets to mainstream shows on and off Broadway for neurodivergent people. Participating theaters have committed to adaptations and are providing training and education to their staff to ensure a seamless experience.

“While a handful of accessible performances during the run of a particular theater production is a wonderful first step, it can unknowingly further marginalize and segregate a chronically underserved community,” said Adrienne Willis, founding director of Seats on the Spectrum. and mother of a child with autism. “Imagining the sense of inclusion and palpable joy that Seats on the Spectrum will generate among this same community is the driving force behind the initiative we have undertaken.”

Seats on the Spectrum launches as a pilot program and offers tickets to 96 performances this fall for five different shows at Roundabout Theater Company, which has theaters on and off Broadway, and New Victory Theatre, a New York organization that presents shows for children and families. The collaboration involves the Theater Development Fund, a nonprofit organization that has presented autism-friendly shows on Broadway since 2011.

The initiative will provide dedicated aisle seating with easy access to exits, give people with disabilities the option to enter the theater before a show or take a tour to feel comfortable in the environment, and people will have the option to be seated early or late to avoid large crowds. Participating theaters will have bags of calming items, such as fidget toys and noise-canceling headphones, available for purchase, offer welcoming areas for people with sensory needs, and provide a social narrative template to help people understand and prepare for the show .

Seats on the Spectrum said they will train ushers and other staff to support neurodiverse people and address any issues that may arise with other customers. Additionally, theaters will offer educational materials to raise awareness among the public.

The pilot program is the result of a year-long investigation into access to the performing arts for people with autism that involved people on the spectrum, caregivers, government representatives, doctors and theater representatives.

Those behind the effort say they hope to show what a more inclusive theatrical offering can look like. They note that, according to The Broadway League, a maximum of 9,000 tickets were available during the 2022-2023 Broadway season for performances geared toward people with autism out of the roughly 12.3 million who attended the shows.

“The Seats on the Spectrum pilot program recognizes that everyone can enjoy a theatrical performance, and that other cultural sectors are light years ahead of us when it comes to including people with autism and other forms of neurodivergence in everyday life.” . People with ASD and their families will need the support of institutions and theater artists, and I am honored to be part of the effort,” said Kelli O’Hara, a Tony Award-winning actress and singer who was part of the group that developed the program.

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