From the Nominator

University College Dublin (UCD) believes in equality, diversity, and inclusion and embeds these fairness principles into all aspects of university life. UCD’s largest public engagement event, the UCD Festival, aims to prioritize the safety and happiness of all attendees and recognizes that the size and crowds attending the festival can be overwhelming for some. In 2023, the UCD festival team, in collaboration with UCD Neurodiversity Working Group and Neurodiversity Ireland, prioritized inclusivity by curating a Sensory Friendly Strand at the event. The festival team created sensory-friendly events, talks, workshops, storytelling, and silent disco, and sensory spaces were created across campus, all identifiable by a designated symbol. Volunteers were stationed at these events/spaces to provide support, adjusting lighting, textures, and sounds to create a comfortable environment. A sensory guide was created for the festival and priority queuing was offered to neurodivergent attendees, who were identified by Neurodiversity Ireland and Sunflower Hidden Disability lanyards and AsIAm cards. This initiative ensured that all festival-goers, regardless of sensory needs, could enjoy the event safely and comfortably. A quarter of festival attendees benefited from the Sensory Friendly Strand, with a parent of a neurodivergent child remarking, "Fair play putting a splash of 'autism-friendly' all over the event. Even the map itself gives you confidence as a family to go to an event like that. It shows you care and you’re making an effort to include us all.”

From the Judges

UCD Festival, with its sensory-friendly events, was a judge favorite. Their willingness to collaborate with a variety of groups and create sensory spaces really showed their commitment to inclusivity at this event. Their own feedback showed a small overall investment had a huge impact for the neurodivergent community.