Palo Verde High School recently held a sensory-friendly concert for middle school students zoned for the high school who are on the Autism spectrum or have sensory sensitivities.
The big picture: Sensory-friendly concerts create a welcoming environment for all to enjoy live music.
- Sensory-friendly concerts seek to minimize sensory overload and create a more relaxed atmosphere than traditional concerts.
- Volume levels tend to be lower and the lighting might be softer. The rules regarding movement and noise from the audience are relaxed.
What they’re saying: Another benefit of the concert, said Stephanie Olsen, a special education teacher at Palo Verde High School, was to expose the students to the Best Buddies program and to meet staff and other students.
- “So when they come here next year it’s already familiar to them and it will really lessen their anxiety and enhance their experience coming to school,” Olsen says.
