This is so staff can recognise when someone “is having a meltdown or struggling”, he adds. The National Autistic Society says a meltdown is “an intense response to an overwhelming situation”, external.
Richardson suggests trained staff should wear identifiable clothing, which would help those looking for them at an event.
Paul Hawkins, a boss at Attitude is Everything, the charity working to improve experiences for disabled people at gigs and events, says the challenge for organisers comes with recognising the varying requirements of individuals.
“Different neurodivergent people have very different experiences,” he tells the BBC.
He agrees quiet spaces and sensory tents have had “a massive impact” on the festival scene over the past few years, but says there’s still a long way to go in crowd management, and to create quieter routes for people to reach accessible spaces.
“There’s not really a lot of excuses for festivals not getting the basics right because the information is all out there and it’s quite easy to find,” he adds.
