Sloss Fest Becomes Sensory Inclusive
An outdoor music festival sounds like a great time for some people, but for someone with autism it can be a nightmare. Sloss Fest happens this weekend, and organizers say it’s the first music festival in the U.S. to be designated “sensory inclusive.”
Thousands of music fans will flock to Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham this weekend to catch performances from some of their favorite artists at Sloss Fest. But the noise and the crowds and lights can be a nightmare for someone with autism. Festival organizers hope to make it easier this year. They say Sloss Fest will be the first music festival in the U.S. to be designated “sensory inclusive.”
You might wonder why people who struggle with loud sounds or bright flashing lights would want to attend a crowded music festival in the first place. Michele Kong, co-founder of Kulture City, an organization focused on creating sensory-inclusive environments, says “Why wouldn’t they though?” People who have visual or noise sensitivities still might enjoy music, she says. “It doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy basketball. You still love all those things but it’s just that you cannot go because the environment is not set up for you to go.”
Jay Wilson with Red Mountain Productions, which is producing the event, says it isn’t always easy to tell when someone with autism needs help. But there are a few signs. For instance, they might fidget more or act differently.
Festival staffers, including security guards and volunteers, have completed special training led by medical professionals and staff from Kulture City. Kong says they’ll use other resources like sensory bags, which include noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, and other items to help those individuals calm down.
Organizers will also set up a sensory room for those who become overstimulated during the festival. People who are sensitive to noise will be able to take a break, calm down and head back out to enjoy the music. That’s exciting for Karen Willis, of Montgomery. She has autism and has been fighting for inclusion most of her life. “I was very excited and very happy because most people with autism aren’t able to experience these community events like the Sloss Fest” Willis says. She says now that it’s sensory-friendly, more people with autism and other disabilities can enjoy events similar to Sloss Fest. Even so, Willis hesitates when asked whether she plans to attend the festival this weekend. “It’s a wait and see,” she says. She loves that she has the option, but says maybe she’ll go next year.
IRS sued by watchdog group for records on Trump’s attacks on Harvard
Watchdog group American Oversight takes Trump administration to court over the alleged withholding of information related to Harvard University's tax-exempt status
Trump threatened school funding in Maine. Here’s how that money is used
Schools in Maine are in the middle of a political and legal battle between the Trump administration and Gov. Janet Mills. Key programs for the most vulnerable students are at stake.
Where does your weather forecast come from?
Whether you get your forecast from an app on your phone, a website or a meteorologist on TV, most of the underlying information comes from the federal government.
How President Trump is sparking a crypto revolution in America
Crypto exchange giant Coinbase is set to join the S&P 500 on Monday. It's the latest stunning development as Trump completely revamps the approach to crypto in the U.S.
How new at-home HPV test kits could help Alabama fight cervical cancer
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the country’s first at-home HPV screening kit, a disease that causes nearly all cervical cancers. While some hope the new kits might turn things around, others have questions.
Indians still pray at ‘visa temples’ after the U.S. deported migrants in chains
Hindu temples offer prayers for a path to the U.S. But some in India were stunned by the way the U.S. deported Indians despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's friendship with President Trump.
