Our Mission

Accessible Theatre Project strives to offer safe, judgement-free environments for audiences who would benefit from accessibility accommodations. We provide inclusive theater experiences for neurodiverse audience members and their families by partnering with theater organizations to create sensory-friendly productions.

PERFORMER SURVEY

Our Values

  • Inclusivity: We believe that theater is a powerful medium for bringing people together. Through our accommodations we seek to bring theater experiences to everyone in an environment they feel comfortable in.
  • Advocacy: We acknowledge that our current leadership team is made up of neurotypical individuals, and therefore we cannot personally understand the lived experience of all neurodiverse peoples. We seek to be effective allies and advocates by being responsive to the needs of our audiences and eliciting community feedback.
  • Enthusiasm: All members of our leadership team recognize the impact that theater has had in our lives and is what brought us together as a group. We seek to foster relationships and a love for theater in the communities we work with.

What is a sensory-friendly performance?

Sensory-friendly performances aim to provide a safe, judgement-free, and comfortable theater experience for children with autism or other sensory-related disabilities and their families. The show is performed as written, but with special accommodations to account for potential sensory challenges.

What accommodations are involved?

  • Pre-show resources: plot synopsis, character guide, & video social story
  • Volunteer support staff 
  • Flexible seating
  • Quiet room/break area with activities & comfortable seating
  • Adjusted light and sound levels
  • Short run time (typically ~1hr)
  • Free tickets

Although this organization has members who are University of Virginia students and may have University employees associated or engaged in its activities and affairs, the organization is not a part of or an agency of the University. It is a separate and independent organization which is responsible for and manages its own activities and affairs. The University does not direct, supervise or control the organization and is not responsible for the organization’s contracts, acts or omissions.