All Access Inclusion Network
It is Autism Awareness Month. In today’s episode, we chat with Rachel Jenkins and Colin Peterson who are moving the needle toward inclusion in some spectacular ways. Rachel is an educational consultant, and she's part of Triad, which is an acronym for the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Now, this is part of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. As part of that work, Rachel is also a member of the All Access Inclusion Network (AAIN). Colin Peterson is the educational director at Nashville Children's Theater and part of AAIN.
Edited Transcript
Marsh Naidoo (00:12):
Welcome to this episode of the Raising Kellan Podcast. My name Marsh Naidoo and I blog at www.raisingkellan.org where we curate resources for parents raising children with developmental delay and disabilities. As always, remember, the content on this podcast is purely informational, and if you seek advice for your specific situation to contact a trained professional. Today's episode is brought to you by Move Up Physical Therapy, a private practice in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, owned and operated by Rebecca Renfro. Rebecca, thank you so much for believing in the work we do and your sponsorship. In today's episode, we are joined by Rachel Jenkins of the All Access Inclusion Network, as well as Colin Peterson of Nashville Children's Theater. We have a little over a month left for the summer vacation. So today's episode brings you another idea of what's possible and how to get your kids out and about. So grab that cup of coffee, put your feet up, and get ready for some awesome conversation.
Marsh Naidoo (01:39):
Today, we are joined by Rachel Jenkins, as well as Colin Peterson guys. Rachel actually is an educational consultant, and she's part of Triad, which is an acronym for the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Now, this is part of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. As part of that work, Rachel is also a member of the All Access Inclusion Network. Now, Colin Peterson guys is the educational director at Nashville Children's Theater. So welcome to the Raising Kellan podcast.
Rachel Jenkins (02:25):
Thank you for having us. We're excited to be here.
Colin Peterson (02:28):
Thanks for having us. Absolutely.
Marsh Naidoo (02:30):
Awesome, guys. Now, Rachel, if you don't care, I would like to start with you. First of all, what is Triad? Can you give us a little bit of a background and then kind of segue into the All Access Inclusion network, please?
Rachel Jenkins (02:51):
Yes, absolutely. So, as you said TRIAD is part of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and Vanderbilt Medical. We are based in Nashville, but we provide services across the state, and we do research, but we also provide clinical services such as treatment and assessment. We support educators and providers, and we have a lot of educational training and support services for educators, caregivers, clinicians, and other professionals. We have like a really robust library of online modules, and we have just a lot of different projects all focused on improving outcomes for children with autism. And a really important part of our mission is our community engagement work, and that's where the All Access Inclusion Network comes in. So I've only been with TRIAD for a year and a half, but I believe the All Access Inclusion Network has been around since 2013. Is that right, Colin?
Colin Peterson (03:50):
Yeah. Yes. Since been around since 2013. And before that, it was, you know, just Triad and Community partnership with a couple of different organizations of which National Children's Theater was one of those organizations.
Rachel Jenkins (04:01):
Yes. Yeah, the Children's Theater has been one of our founding members since 2013. We lead as an or TRIAD leads the All Access Inclusion network, but we all really work collaboratively. So like we organize the meetings and we partner individually with organizations to support them, but it's really a network with all of us, it's like a triad-centric network. It's, we want to be very collaborative and the network includes arts organizations like the Children's Theater, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera museums like the Country Music Hall of Fame are partners. Athletic organizations, other community resources like the Library. Most of the organizations are in Middle Tennessee, but we actually do have a couple in other States, and even a few in other parts of Tennessee. We welcome organizations from other parts of Tennessee.
(05:00):
And like I said, even from other States. And we say we promote true inclusion, which we mean, by that, that we work on creating meaningful experiences and opportunities to belong through participation in programs and representation within the organization. So really thinking beyond just providing access to something like what does it mean to actually be welcoming and to help individuals with autism individuals from the neurodivergent community really feel welcome and like they belong there. We do a lot of things as a network, and I guess just emphasizing what I said before we really work collaboratively both as a group and individually throughout the year to improve access and inclusion. So that could include staff and volunteer trainings, providing feedback, attending events. The support is very individualized to each organization. And then, I'm trying to think if there's anything else.
(06:05):
I guess I should add that we have an advisory committee that includes autistic self-advocates, and they help inform the directions of our network. And I'm trying to think if there's anything else that I've left out beyond that. We do lean towards focusing on inclusion for people in the Autism and Neurodivergent community, but I would say, and Colin, you can add on to this if you want, but our conversations in our work really extend beyond those groups to the larger disability community. We kind of think about inclusion in a broader sense, but with TRIAD our expertise obviously lies more in the autism realm. So that's sort of a specific focus of our work. So yeah, that is a brief overview of TRIAD and the All Access Inclusion Network.
Marsh Naidoo (06:53):
Colin, how long have you all been part of the network and, and, and what is the relationship you'll have with the ALL Access Network?
Colin Peterson (07:03):
Yeah, so like Rachel said, Nashville Children's Theatre is part of the All Access Inclusion network before it was even named the All Access Inclusion Network, <laugh>. So National Children's Theater was one of the founding members of that organization. I've been with the Children's Theater since 2010. So we started working specifically with TRIAD in 2009 and in 2010, and then we started our sensory-friendly performances that they were called at the time mm-hmm. <Affirmative>. So that there was one show for every performance of a show, say for instance, we're doing Lama Lama Red Pajama right now and one of those shows would be designated sensory friendly for folks with autism or any of neurodivergent individuals to come in. We have a sensory interpreter where folks go through the script and go through the show, and then we mark moments where we feel that might be startling or particularly anxiety-inducing.
(08:19):
So that sensory interpreter will raise a red light to indicate to say, Hey, this is a moment where something's coming up. Prepare yourself for that moment, you know, so that nothing is truly startling or taking anybody off guard. We also have a lot of different supports on those sensory-friendly days to be able to help folks regulate if they need to move around if they need to walk around the space, if they need to go into the lobby, if they need to go into the back of the theater. That's kind of where that journey started with our work with the All Access Inclusion Network was with those sensory-friendly performances. But since this is an ongoing journey towards inclusion we taking steps to better support the young people that we serve.
(09:17):
And so we've come a long way from where that originated. Now those sensory- friendly performances have, we actually, from the learning that I've made from being a part of the All Access Inclusion Network conversations with Rachel and conversations with Blair one of the team members at the All Access Inclusion network and Lauren Weaver. There was really the All Access Inclusion Network is connecting all these arts organizations and all these cultural organizations across Tennessee so that we can share information and what are best practices and what's happening over here, and what are some ideas that are happening and how can we integrate those into our own spaces. And Blair was sharing about a sensory space that she had worked on when she was in Austin, Texas.
(10:23):
And I was like, oh, wait a minute. We have a space that's exactly like this at the back of the auditorium. What can we do to convert this? So there was originally a space in the back of the auditorium called the Comfort Room where typically folks with young children would be able to take those babies into the room so that like, if they were crying or so on and so forth, like that would be a space that they could still watch the show because it was behind plated glass windows and still in the auditorium, the sound was being pumped into the room, so you could still hear what was happening, but I was like, this is a spot where we can have anybody come, like, babies are regulating here. It doesn't have to be just for babies, it could be for everybody.
(11:08):
And so we retrofitted the entire room to help support a whole bunch of different like modalities. We have proprioceptive, vestibular and visual regulations in there, auditory regulators, tactile, kinesthetic, like all, all of the things I really leaned on Rachel and Blair to talk about what are some ideas that could go into that room and then like took it and ran with it. We were able to generous, get a generous donation/grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission to help outfit that room with a whole bunch of different supports. We've got a trampoline in there, we've got obstacle course places in there. We've got sensory stops. We've got kinesthetic fidgets, we've gotta make your own fidget station. We have a complete blackout room for anybody who's like having too much visual stimulation.
(12:09):
But also the cool thing about it is that it is not so many sensory rooms, so many places where folks can go to regulate. It's excluded from the reason why people came to the event, but this is in the space. It's part of the space. And so if anybody needs to regulate or if anybody needs to move through you know, calming their body or their brain down, they're still able to participate in the reason why they came. And so what's really exciting about that is it makes now because of, because of those supports and because of that room now all main stage shows at Nashville Children's Theater are sensory-friendly. So all of them are sensory for every single show. So, like Rachel was talking about, like those steps from access all the way to true inclusion.
(13:09):
Like starting at Access is awesome and then you move along the track and start moving your way towards full inclusion. And so we have moved now to having all of our shows be sensory-friendly. And now what was originally designated as our sensory-friendly shows are now being called the Neuro Inclusive shows. And next year we're planning on doing even more for those days because we've now stepped beyond where we were and we're just keep on moving the needle. So, but yeah, it's all because of like the work that the All Access Inclusion Network has helped us realize and see. So those connections are important.
Marsh Naidoo (13:49):
I think that speaks to one of the beauties of when you are set up for this kind of inclusion or universal access, and case in point is the sensory stories you guys have on your website, Colin, which actually prepares your neurotypical as well as your neurodiverse child before they come to enjoy the experience. And I think that's like fantastic and that is actually what we kind of need from a parent standpoint so that it's not as overwhelming. It helps with some of the regulation. And then speaking about the space in the theater itself, that can be used for an accommodation. Kudos to your guys for setting up those sensory stories. So what do you all have coming up? What is the next show that you guys have coming up, Colin?
Colin Peterson (14:56):
The next show at Nashville Children's Theater that we have coming up is Hip Hop Cinderella. That's from April 13th through May 21st. Also, one additional thing in the social stories is something that we're really proud of as well. We have social stories for everything. It's also become like common vernacular for us too. Like when we're going to a new event or a new situation, my teachers and I, cause we, we really train all of our teachings are all of our drama school classes and camps are also inclusive as well. We do a lot of work with visual schedules and what you spoke to, like what's great for a small section of the community and it's great for everyone. And that's the thing that I think that people don't think about when they're talking about supporting folks with disabilities like these supports that will support everybody.
(15:51):
And we need to expand that thinking and really be more open in our minds about accessibility and what we can do.
Marsh Naidoo (16:48):
When is the neuro-inclusive Hip Hop Cinderella happening?
Colin Peterson (17:00):
The neuro-inclusive performance is on May 13th. And the cool thing also about neuro-inclusive performances is that we have a Try-It -Again path. So also a discount. So anybody who comes in through the All Access Inclusion Network or Autism Tennessee sends it out in their blast. There's a discount code so that folks can come to neuro-inclusive performance for a greater discount than what our typical prices. And if it doesn't work for them that day, we have a Try-it_Again path on that day. So if you, if it that day is just not working out for your family, you can come to the box office and even if, like you come to the theater and it's just not the day for that, for that young person to be able to see that experience. And that's ok. You go to the box office, you get a Try-it-Again, pass, you don't have to pay anything, and then you can come to another performance of that show
Marsh Naidoo (17:57):
That's awesome.
Colin Peterson (17:59):
So just like to remove the barrier of, you know, that financial barrier, that's also a really important aspect of the work that we're doing?
Marsh Naidoo (18:08):
So this is the big question, Colin, do you guys have a traveling neuro-inclusive? I'm in northwest Tennessee.
Rachel Jenkins (18:19):
<Laugh>.
Colin Peterson (18:20):
I wish, I mean, like, you know there's definitely an idea. I mean to be completely honest we're still building back the Theater community back from Covid. It was so devastating to our industry and we're trying to rebuild in a more equitable way and part of that is including neurodivergent folks. So yeah that's definitely something that I've thought about and things that I would love to go out into the communities.
Marsh Naidoo (19:07):
I wish!
Rachel Jenkins (19:08):
Well, I will say their performances are incredible. Every single I go to the neuro inclusive performances and I just, all of them have really blown me away. They do such a great job.
Colin Peterson (19:17):
Thanks!
Marsh Naidoo (19:19):
Rachel. Tell us more about the All Access Inclusion Network in terms of some other partners that you'll have in the program. Obviously parents can access the information through your guys website, right?
Rachel Jenkins (19:37):
So yeah, we do have a website on TRIAD main website, but that is more for our community partners, for caregivers,and parents, I would say. Our individual organizations all have accessibility sections of their websites, and that's where they have like their own social stories, their own sensory maps and any kind of accommodations or inclusion supports. So I would direct parents more to like the individual organization's websites. So for example, like the Country Music Hall of Fame, a museum is another partner, the Tennessee State Museum Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera. We have roughly, I think around like 25 partners or organizations within the network. But it does fluctuate a little bit. But yes, we have, I can send you our website link where you could go and see all of the organizations and then each of those individual organizations have all of their inclusion supports.
(20:44):
But like I said, it's, it's individualized because they're all different. Like a museum has different supports than a theater would or the ballet or the opera. So they, there's some similarities. They all have things like social stories, but for example, the Country Music Hall of Fame is another partner I work with. And we just put together sensory maps for them, which is really important because it can be kind of an overwhelming visually visual experience for people when they're going through the museum. There's a lot of noise, a lot of people around. So we developed a map that kind of identifies some quiet spots and really is visually helpful for people who might be overwhelmed in that environment. So that was something that they, that was really important for them. So every organization kind of has their own unique needs.
Marsh Naidoo (21:33):
So we have our summer holidays that are not too far off. Are there any special events that come to your guys' minds for those parents that might be planning trips or day trips or vacations to Nashville?
Colin Peterson (21:50):
But we definitely have summer camps that are available and on sale, if that's something that people are interested in or happen to be near for a week-long camp That's something that Nashville Children's offers. Rachel, are you, do you know of any events that are going, coming up from other community partners?
Rachel Jenkins (22:13):
I know what the Country Music Hall of Fame, for example. They have camps in the summer, but I don't know specifically of any other events from other community partners at the moment.
Marsh Naidoo (22:26):
So guys is there anything that y'all would like to add as far as the work that you continue to do in this space? Can folks reach '? Or the best contact information to get in touch?
Colin Peterson (22:48):
They can reach out to me at my email address is cpeterson@nashvillect.org and our new website, which is www.nashvillechildrenstheatre.org. They can check out what Hip Hop Cinderella has to offer, which is coming up in April and May. And then also our new season will be announced in late April. And we'll have neuro-inclusive performances for all of those shows as well.
Rachel Jenkins (23:40):
They have questions about the network. They can reach out to me at Rachel.ejenkins1@vmc.org
Marsh Naidoo (24:07):
Guys, thank you so much for your time this morning. It's was just awesome to see the work that's been done in this space towards promoting inclusion and just developing that understanding as well. So I would like to thank you both for your time and hope to see you guys soon.
Colin Peterson (24:31):
Yeah, absolutely. If you're ever in Nashville, let me know and then we'll, I'll give you a tour. We'll go all over the place. It'll be great. So it'd be, it'd be great. Yeah. Come on down to, come on down to the Children's Theater. Thank you so much for having us.
Rachel Jenkins (24:42):
Yeah, thank you so much.
Marsh Naidoo (24:44):
Absolutely, guys, you'll have an amazing day.
Colin Peterson (24:47):
You too.
Marsh Naidoo (24:48):
Thank you for listening along on the podcast today. We sincerely appreciate a rate review and a share of the information that we provide to other parents seeking this type of information. As always, remember, get to the top of your mountain. This is Marsh Naidoo signing off.
