Exploring How Live Theaters Promote Participation for Children with Special Needs

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Community participation
• Arts accessibility

Background:

• Growing attendance of children with special needs at cultural arts venues.
• Need for optimized participation planning in these venues.
• Limited existing training for arts staff on supporting diverse needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To train children's theater staff in supporting children with special needs.
• To explore collaborative best practices in community participation planning.
• To enhance the inclusivity of arts venues for children with disabilities.

Main Methods:

• Occupational therapy graduate students and a faculty researcher collaborated with a children's theater.
• Methods included event participation, facility assessment, staff interviews, and pre/post-workshop surveys.
• A participation-planning workshop was conducted for theater staff.

Main Results:

• A collaborative approach provided practical strategies for theater staff.
• Training focused on sensory processing, regulation, behavior management, and communication.
• Staff gained skills to address challenges faced by children with special needs.

Conclusions:

• Theater staff shifted from reactive to proactive participation planning.
• The training fostered a desire for in-house expertise in participation planning.
• Enhanced planning supports the theater's mission while improving inclusivity.