"We are very blessed to have a commitment by a lot of cultural arts organizations in the DMV who have realized the importance of making sure that cultural arts spaces are inclusive of everyone," says Diane Nutting, the former director of access and inclusion at Imagination Stage, who now serves as a consultant to cultural arts institutions in the D.C. area and beyond.
Many of these sensory-friendly programs were initially developed for the autism community. But the inclusive and welcoming nature of these events has made them popular with people who have other types of special needs as well, including intellectual disabilities, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or other developmental disabilities, says Roger Ideishi, a professor of health, human function and rehabilitation sciences at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
"What families comment the most on is the social experience," Ideishi says. "Because they don't often find those kinds of opportunities to be in such a supportive, welcoming, inclusive environment where people get to be who they are and they're accepted as they are."
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