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Sensory Friendly Sunday, 2018. Photo by Galen Fletcher for Walker Art Center, Minneapolis.

Making a Museum More Sensory Friendly

Launched in 2018, Sensory Friendly Sunday is the Walker’s free monthly program designed for people of all ages with sensory processing differences, autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, and their friends and families. Designed in consultation with a Community Advisory Group made up of self-advocates, parents of children with autism, and professionals in the field, the program was created with assistance from the Autism Society of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota’s Occupational Therapy Program.

Kate Quale, local illustrator, designer, and member of both the Sensory Friendly Sunday Community Advisory Group and The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, sat down to discuss this program, the Walker’s approach to accessibility, and what insights these programs can provide when considering how to improve accessibility for all visitors to the Walker.

Sarah Lampen

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your relationship with the Walker?

Kate Quale

My name is Kate Quale, and I am a parent of a child who is autistic, has ADHD, as well as other disabilities. She is now eight years old, and we have been attending the Walker since she was a baby. It was very difficult to attend when she became mobile, which is typical for any little child, but over time we realized that many sensory components impacted her experience, with not only the Walker but any museum or public place we wanted to attend.

I was invited to be part of the Sensory Friendly Sunday Advisory Committee. I wanted to be a part of that advocacy.

SL

We’re so glad that you did become involved and are very appreciative of your input and guidance. In that process, we really couldn’t have launched the program without the Advisory Committee and your help. What did the group identify as priorities when you were working on designing and launching Sensory Friendly Sundays?

KQ

The first priorities were equity and access. It wasn’t just about “Let’s open our doors and that’s it.” I’m sure places have probably tried just having extra hours for spaces to be open in the past, and that just doesn’t work very well. Instead, the process of creating Sensory Friendly Sundays was very investigative, multi-layered, and involved. There was a lot of researching and reviewing with different people in the disability community. Some of these people would go through the whole Walker Art Center and identify the positive areas of the museum that worked.

We wanted to highlight areas we needed to adjust or adapt to make [them] more accessible. There was also intensive training for staff and volunteers on how to learn about people in the disability community in Minnesota. This also included how to interact with people with disabilities because there are biases that have to be unlearned. The Walker was very sensitive to that. I think, naturally, people in the arts community are much more open, welcoming, and understanding. They were really open to unlearning any abelist tendencies and relearning more welcoming, supportive, inclusive interactions.

For instance, how to communicate with somebody who is autistic or someone who is deaf? What should I do if they’re getting too close to a piece of artwork? How do I interact with them in a supportive way? They were offered different training tools on how to interact. In addition to tools for having conversations, little hand signs were created to show or explain about not getting too close to the art, instead of suddenly shouting or touching someone on the shoulder, which can be startling and overwhelming. It always helps to know what is expected in advance and use clear literal reminders.

We also talked about [offering] accessibility tools, like sensory fidgets, quiet areas, noise-canceling headphones, and dimming lights in certain areas that can be overstimulating. Then we also discussed the intersectionality of the disability community. And how the Walker Art Center is intersectional, not only in the types of art that is presented, but also across cultures, race, socioeconomic, age, gender, LGBTQ+, as well as across Minnesota and internationally.

Another important topic was making sure that the bathrooms were accessible. Bathrooms need to be accessible for mobility reasons, but also auditory, olfactory, and a whole bunch of other reasons.

SL

This process of forming an advisory committee, developing the program, and identifying these priorities was an important learning opportunity for the Walker. It continues to influence conversations we’re having about programming, exhibition design, and our built environment. The committee’s work has had a meaningful impact within the Walker.

KQ

Thank you.

SL

Thank you. (laughs) Could you talk a little bit more about why you think sensory-friendly programming at cultural institutions is important?

KQ

I think it’s important that they are accessible to everyone, period. Historically speaking, people in the disability community have always been othered. They’ve always been left out of the conversation. They’ve physically been left out of buildings. There are steps in almost every building. For people with mobility disabilities—whether they require a wheelchair for accessibility or a cane, or if they have a vestibular disability that impacts how someone sees walking up and down stairs—steps make these places inaccessible. In the future, we can design buildings for cultural institutions that will be accessible from the ground up.

Beginning with a sensory-friendly program was a great start because it creates awareness that the sensory components of lights, noises, olfactory smells, and touch [are] huge. For instance, in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, there is an artwork people can touch and swing on. We can get input from the community on what they need to be included. It is very important to being included. If everybody’s included, then everyone’s welcome. It is important for a cultural institution because it helps to break down all these barriers that exist in society.

SL

Can you tell me a little bit about your family’s experience attending Sensory Friendly Sunday?

KQ

For us, and this sounds cliché, it has been a breath of fresh air. It has been so nice to go in and not feel like I have to apologize. We don’t have to worry about having to leave right away after paying—“We just spent $40 as a family, and we have to leave within five minutes.” That is really big for us. You also can freely explore. Autistic individuals and kiddos can explore, learn, and stim (self-stimulatory  behavior that helps some people self-regulate) without judgment.

Stimming when they’re excited can look like a bunch of things. If they’re in a place where there’s nothing around them that could be knocked over, maybe it will look like a little spin. It may look like hand flapping, jumping up and down, twirling their hair, rubbing something back and forth, or stim with fidgets that the Walker Art Center provides. It is so incredibly nice for them to have the freedom to do that. Whereas in other places, they get a side-eye by people looking at them or asking, “What are they doing?” Even at school, they’re told to stop fidgeting all the time. Having the freedom to enjoy something and experience it is just amazing because that’s how some people experience the world.

We have a routine for our family. If there is a visiting artist, we typically go to them first. If it’s during the summer, we then hop on the elevator and go right to the rooftop for the mini golf. Our kiddo does not like to do mini golf the traditional way. She likes to quickly see every area and enjoy the amazing designs. It is wonderful that she doesn’t have to follow mini golf the way mini golf is set up, and that every family can do the mini golf the way they want. Everyone just understands. That is so, so amazing.

If there is an exhibit on view that works for her, we will enjoy it. One of her favorite exhibits was Allora & Calzadilla: Chalk. She usually never likes touching chalk much, but she loved trying to pick up the big chalk. It was also good for her from a physical standpoint. She was very careful with it while drawing.

Then, if she is in the mood, we’ll walk through the galleries and look at a few [artworks] she likes to look at. Afterward, we go to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to climb on the things we’re allowed to climb on. (laughs)

SL

Thank you for sharing that. I’m also curious if there are any ways you’d like to see Sensory Friendly Sundays grow or change?

KQ

We would love to see more days or even an evening offered. I have heard from the disability community that, for some adults and teens, it is a struggle to get up early in the morning on Sundays. The stairs were a challenge for those that use a wheelchair or have vestibular issues, or have to use an elevator, but that isn't just SFS, that's just a long term thing. It is also important to keep using everything that works. For instance, the sensory-friendly bags are wonderful—those Walker gift bags you hand out with an activity inside and often a little sketchbook. That gives families or individuals a chance in a quiet area to sit down and do something if they need a moment to be quiet. Those are wonderful. Just keep adding more.

SL

Finally, what impact do you think Sensory Friendly Sundays is making on visitors, and what impact is it having on the community?

KQ

The Walker, through Sensory Friendly Sundays, pioneered and opened a gateway for other organizations to realize that this is something that needs to be done. People with disabilities are a part of the community and need to be included. This is a start. It is one way of building awareness and providing a safe space for individuals and families who get overwhelmed when there are too many people in a building.

Making a very safe and open place that is welcoming for the disability community has a huge impact. It is welcoming to families that include kids with disabilities and to disabled individuals. Sensory Friendly Sundays is an opportunity for people with disabilities to explore, learn, and just experience art.

SL

Thank you so much. I appreciate all your work to make the Walker a more inclusive and welcoming space.

KQ

Thank you. Keep it up. (laughs)▪︎

Experience Sensory Friendly Sunday yourself this winter on December 11, January 8, and February 12. and learn more about the program here.  To register for a future program visit the Walker's calendar.