Shadelands Art Center Earns Sensory Inclusive Certification

WALNUT CREEK, CA—Shadelands Art Center staff are excited to better serve guests with special sensory needs now that the facility has received certification as a Sensory-Inclusive Venue.

As the main location for the Center for Community Arts under Walnut Creek Arts + Rec, Shadelands hosts a wide variety of public programming. A bustling arts or music class at Shadelands might be overstimulating for some visitors.

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are common among people with autism, dementia, PTSD and similar conditions. They might become overwhelmed by crowds, lights, sounds, smells or other stimuli.

The certification process involved detailed training of staff by leading medical and neurodivergent professionals with KultureCity on how to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation.

Shadelands is now equipped with "sensory bags," kits that include noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads.

"Center for Community Arts is a place for everyone to participate in our programs," said Maile Ogasawara Garcia, program manager. "Our staff and teachers at Shadelands take every opportunity to learn and grow as educators and the KultureCity sensory training and tools help us to be more aware and supportive as we welcome participants with invisible and visible disabilities into this space for classes and events."

KultureCity is a nonprofit organization promoting inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with sensory needs. Its Sensory Inclusive program is used internationally by stadiums, museums and other public venues.

"If anyone has a sensory overload situation, we are educated and ready to respond," Ogasawara Garcia said. "We have new signage up throughout our Shadelands facility about our Sensory Inclusive options, and we want to get the message out to the community that our doors are open to all."

November is National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month—two demographics who often benefit from sensory-inclusive spaces. Elizabeth Sheets Orcutt, Arts + Rec community relations manager, said it was an excellent time to spread the word.

"One of our core tenets through all of Walnut Creek Arts + Rec is that every single individual in our community deserves to experience wonderful cultural opportunities," Sheets Orcutt said. "We’re proud to have put those values into action at Shadelands."

To help such visitors prepare for their first trip to Shadelands, Walnut Creek Arts + Rec collaborated with KultureCity to create a Social Story. It can be viewed here or through KultureCity’s mobile app.

Looking ahead, Walnut Creek Arts + Rec aims to achieve sensory-inclusive certification for additional facilities.

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