A letter to "fully accessible" and "sensory friendly" spaces
One of my pet peeves as a disabled person and access consultant is when people say "fully accessible". No live event or place can be fully accessible to everyone all of the time. For example, a person who can't see in low light needs bright lighting at a venue but an autistic person with light sensitivity needs low lighting. That is just one example of millions where different people's access requirements clash. Of course this doesn't mean we should all give up on accessibility but, in order to respect all disabled people, it must be acknowledged.
"Sensory friendly" is a similar phrase: it tends to mean soft lighting, low voices, and muted colours, but that isn't sensory friendly to everyone. For example, while some autistic people prefer soft spaces like this, others need more "heavy-handed" sensory experiences to stay grounded and focused. So, similarly there is no such thing as a space that is "sensory friendly" to everyone.
You may be thinking "okay but isn't this a bit pedantic, you know what they mean" but, I don't! I can guess a sensory friendly space will be quiet or that an accessible venue won't have stairs. But a person's access needs are specific needs, we need to specifically know if they will be met or violated in the space. I don't want to just turn up and find out if I can exist in a space or not.
The point I am trying to make here is that communication is key in access in all areas. You should try and make your space accessible as possible but, just as not everyone will like your content, not everyone can access your content.
Twitch Tips!
Avoid using phrases like "accessible stream" or "sensory friendly", these can be very frustrating. If you would like to communicate the accessibility of your space, instead say "closed captions", "cosy", "no flashing lights". If you're really committed to a certain level of access, consider having a panel explaining what you try to achieve.
