Kansas City, Mo. — Sherwood Autism Center is celebrating a meaningful partnership with The Coterie Theatre that demonstrates how collaboration can help create more welcoming and accessible community spaces for neurodivergent individuals and their families.
Last fall, Sherwood staff met with The Coterie Theatre team to discuss ways the theatre could make its environment more accessible and welcoming for all audience members. The Coterie listened to Sherwood’s guidance and implemented several recommendations designed to better support neurodivergent patrons.
Recently, Sherwood students had the opportunity to attend Pete the Cat at The Coterie and experience the adapted environment firsthand.
“It was especially meaningful to see the students who helped inspire those changes utilizing the space themselves,” said Special Education Program Director Lesleigh Centinguc. “This is an excellent example of how Sherwood Autism Center can help schools, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations better understand neurodiversity and use practical strategies to become more welcoming for all.”
The Coterie Theatre, established in 1979, is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides professional classical and contemporary theatre while creating educational and dramatic outreach programs in the community.
As part of its commitment to accessibility, The Coterie offers sensory-friendly performances for neurodivergent patrons. These performances include modified lighting and sound to create a more relaxed environment, while allowing audience members to interact with the story in ways that best support their needs, including speaking, moving, or using devices during the performance.
The theatre also provides sensory kits for patrons who may benefit from additional support. The complimentary kits, generously provided by Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City, include noise-reducing headphones, a weighted lap pad, light-reducing polarized sunglasses, and handheld fidget tools.
The Coterie also offers access to a Reset Room, a sensory room located in the lobby near the Box Office. The room is designed for audience members experiencing overstimulation and includes regulation tools such as adjustable dim lighting, white noise, live audio from the theatre, touch-tour materials from the show’s props and costumes, flexible seating, bean bags, a wobble cushion, a weighted shoulder wrap, and a coloring or reflection activity.
The space is available before and during each performance as an optional resource for young people who may need a short break before returning to the theatre.
For Sherwood Autism Center, the partnership reflects the Center’s growing role as a resource for schools, nonprofits, businesses, and civic organizations that want to better understand what meaningful inclusion looks like in practice.
“Creating inclusive spaces takes more than good intentions,” said Sherwood Autism Center Executive Director Kia Walsh. “It requires listening, learning, and being willing to shape environments so more people can participate. We are grateful to The Coterie for taking that work seriously and for creating a theatre experience where our students could feel supported.”
The Coterie provides accessibility resources for guests with mobility disabilities, ASL interpretation, audio description, sensory-friendly performances, and social narratives to help prepare children before attending a show. Families or groups with special seating needs or accommodation requests can indicate those needs at checkout or contact The Coterie Box Office at (816) 474-6552.
Organizations interested in learning more about Sherwood Autism Center’s work, programs, partnerships, or neurodiversity education opportunities can visit https://sherwoodcenter.org.
More information about The Coterie Theatre’s accessibility resources is available at https://thecoterie.org/accessibility/.
About Sherwood Autism Center
Sherwood Autism Center educates, equips, and empowers children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities to promote independence in family and community life. Through specialized education, adult day services, supported employment, and community partnerships, Sherwood works to create meaningful opportunities for neurodivergent individuals across the Kansas City region.
About The Coterie Theatre
The Coterie Theatre, established in 1979, is a nationally recognized nonprofit theatre organization in Kansas City. Its mission is to provide professional classical and contemporary theatre that challenges audiences and artists while creating educational and dramatic outreach programs in the community. The Coterie is committed to welcoming performers and audiences of all abilities and backgrounds.