Sensory-friendly Broadway shows have been offered for years, but a new initiative aims to include and accommodate people with autism at regular performances held on some of the most prominent stages in theater.

The effort known as Seats on the Spectrum will offer tickets to mainstream shows on and off Broadway for individuals who are neurodivergent. Participating theaters have committed to make accommodations and are providing training and education for their staff to ensure a smooth experience.

“While a handful of accessible performances during the run of a particular theater production is a wonderful first step, it can unwittingly further marginalize and segregate a chronically underserved community,” said Adrienne Willis, founding director of Seats on the Spectrum and the mother of a child with autism. “Imagining the sense of inclusion and the palpable joy Seats on the Spectrum will generate among this same community is the driving force behind the initiative we’ve undertaken.”

Seats on the Spectrum is launching as a pilot program, offering tickets for 96 performances this fall for five different shows at Roundabout Theatre Company — which has theaters on and off Broadway — and New Victory Theater, a New York organization that presents shows for kids and families. The collaboration involves the Theatre Development Fund, a nonprofit that has presented autism-friendly shows on Broadway since 2011.

The initiative will provide dedicated aisle seats with easy access to exits, give those with disabilities the option to access the theater before a show or take a tour to get comfortable in the environment and individuals will have the choice to be seated early or late to avoid large crowds. Participating theaters will have bags with calming items like fidget toys and noise-canceling headphones available for purchase, offer cozy areas for those with sensory needs and they will provide a social narrative template to help people understand and prepare for the show.

Seats on the Spectrum said they will train ushers and other staff to support individuals who are neurodiverse and to address any issues that may arise with other patrons. In addition, the theaters will offer educational materials to increase awareness among audiences.

The pilot program is the result of a yearlong inquiry looking at access to performing arts for those with autism that involved individuals on the spectrum, caregivers, government representatives, physicians and theater representatives.

Those behind the effort say they hope to show what a more inclusive theater offering can look like. They note that, according to The Broadway League, a maximum of 9,000 tickets were available during the 2022-2023 Broadway season for performances geared toward people with autism out of some 12.3 million who attended shows.

“The Seats on the Spectrum pilot program recognizes that everyone can enjoy a theatrical performance, and that other cultural sectors are lightyears ahead of ours when it comes to including people with autism and other forms of neurodivergence on a day-to-day basis. Individuals with ASD and their families will need the support of theater artists and institutions, and I am honored to be part of the effort,” said Kelli O’Hara, a Tony Award-winning actress and singer who was part of the cohort that developed the program.

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