A few weeks ago, I found myself with a group of other art enthusiasts listening to a reading. I’m not sure of the significance of the setting close to the central motorway. I could hardly hear the reading, and I may have missed the introduction and conclusion, so I ended up feeling perplexed. And that I didn’t belong there. 

That feeling continued when I was watching a performance inside. Again, I began to question my intelligence, why did I not understand what was going on? Why did I feel like an outsider to the party? An observer, a witness, an uninvited guest.

I realised that I didn’t have an escape plan. I didn’t know how long the performance was going to last, didn’t know where the nearest toilet was, didn’t know how my leaving before the end would be taken. There was no side space to sneak off to.

A stomach growled, a phone buzzed, the door squeaked when a person crept out. Awkward. Embarrassing. Cringy. But not unfamiliar.

So, listening to this episode of Neurodivergent Moments with guest Jess Thom really resonated. The discussion about accessibility had so many takeaways for me as I begin to make plans for a series of events. I’m really wanting to ensure that members of the audience feel part of the event, feel comfortable, feel like they belong. I feel it is my responsibility as a host to give them the information they need to be able to enjoy the event, to know what to expect, and feel relaxed. But I am also aware that in order for the event to be a positive experience for me, I also have needs. It will be important the audience know what I expect from them. I don’t want to lecture about rules, and I am scared that I might get it wrong, but listening to Jess speak reminds me that it’s a learning process. Getting the balance will be tricky but having the conversation is important. Access friction will exist. I will find it disturbing if someone starts talking or if people begin to leave, but if I explain this at the beginning, and we can compromise the hope is that everyone feels like they are being cared for.