Achi news desk-
The Montreal Symphony Orchestra (MSO/OSM) performed a unique performance on Sunday aimed at welcoming children with autism and other sensory disorders.
The OSMose concert is a relaxed show for spectators of all ages, especially children.
Marla Kabel is the resource and training center assistant at the Giant Steps school and said that events like this are incredibly important for children with autism and their parents.
“A lot of families, they don’t go out very often because they don’t know how their child will react, they don’t know how the public will react,” Marla Cable, assistant director of the Training and Resource Center. In the center of the giant steps. “When they come to an event like this, they really feel safe and supported.”
The MSO collaborated with therapist Nathalie Leroux in 2018 to develop the program focused on improving audience accessibility.
The concert has limited attendance to 800 people, quiet areas are set up in the lobby, and pictograms help children identify each area and take part in the concert.
“This is a project to cultivate the bride,” Annie Sommier, director of education at MSO. “The goal is to really make our concert accessible to everyone, but think about children with special needs.”
In addition, there are areas for children to move and dance in, the concert doors are open for easier entry and exit, and sound levels are controlled to reduce contrasts and loud or surprising sounds.
“We developed the concert thinking about all the barriers that could exist for someone to come to a regular OSM concert,” Sommier said. “The goal is to make it more accessible for everyone.”
There are no stereo effects or focused lighting and the concert hall is dimly lit throughout the performance.
Cable said children can also discover a love for music.
“How do you know if your child likes music or likes symphonies if they don’t have the opportunity to come,” Cable said. “We have students at school who are very involved in classical music and you only know if you get to experience something like that.”
With a report from CTV News Montreal reporter Matt Gilmore.
