Writer: Barbara Dietrich Boose
Photographer: Andrew Clements
One reason the Des Moines Arts Festival ranked seventh in USA Today’s latest nationwide list of arts festivals is the event’s wide variety of offerings, including great artwork by diverse artists from across the country and emerging artists from Iowa. With live music, hands-on activities and an on-site film festival, there seems to be something for everyone.
Not so fast, says Stephen King, the festival’s executive director. He knew his friend Quincy Hostager couldn’t enjoy the festival, despite his love of rich colors, textures and sounds. The 24-year-old has Dravet syndrome, a rare genetic epilepsy that delays the development of motor and language skills. It also triggers sensory overload. Hostager uses a wheelchair and is sensitive to the heat, as well as certain visual patterns that may cause seizures.
“Frankly, it weighed pretty heavily on me,” King said. “Why can’t we as an events and festivals industry do something to create spaces for all folks?”
That question inspired the creation of Quincy’s Sensory Space in a parking lot at 1430 Locust St. during the 2025 festival. Sponsored by DLR Group and designed by local artist Jill Wells, the space was designed to accommodate individuals with sensory sensitivities. The 96-foot-long “lazy river undulation,” as Wells described it, featured calming visuals, soothing sounds, tactile art and textures and — amid this year’s high temperatures — a fan-cooled oasis. King said the space will become a mainstay of the festival.
Quincy’s mother, Maria La France, noted that many kinds of people made use of the space, not just those with sensory sensitivities. “In a time when people feel isolated and our nation is going through deep political division,” she said, “this was a spot where all people could come together and enjoy themselves” — Quincy included.
“His joy is infectious. He’s non-verbal, but he’ll look you in the eye and see your soul,” she said. “I think people see all of his challenges and that he still manages to find joy. That puts their own issues in perspective.
“Sometimes it’s easier for parents of special-needs children to choose to stay home, and often we do,” she added. “But then we miss the opportunity to let him enjoy different experiences. Spaces like that at the arts festival help bridge that gap.”
For Quincy’s Sensory Space, Wells incorporated biophilic design, which incorporates natural elements like light, water, plants, natural materials and organic patterns. For extra accessibility, the space had multiple entry/exit points and a bathroom with an adult changing table.
“It was really special to bear witness to every demographic of people letting their inhibitions go and just playing in the space,” said Wells, who has a studio at Mainframe Studios. “One mom told me it gave her family such a feeling of dignity. That stuck with me.”
WHAT MAKES A SPACE SENSORY-FRIENDLY?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, individuals with a sensory processing disorder (SPD) respond to sensory information in atypical and sometimes negative ways. They may be overwhelmed or under-responsive to certain sensory stimuli, like sounds or touch. SPD commonly affects people with neurodevelopmental conditions, like autism spectrum disorder and ADHD as well as PTSD, anxiety and other sensory-related challenges. SPD can also show up on its own.
“Everybody has a brain, and we need to consider and respect that everyone experiences the world differently,” said Jordan Bell, assistant professor of occupational therapy at Des Moines University. “Our understanding is shifting from the mindset that everyone needs to behave in a mainstream manner to the fact that not everyone’s brain works that way.”
Making spaces and events sensory-friendly involves minimizing environmental factors that contribute to sensory overload, such as flashing lights, loud and sudden noises, and strong odors. Individuals with SPD can benefit from wearing noise-reducing headphones and moving about safely in designated calm spaces. Several organizations, such as Blank Park Zoo, the Science Center of Iowa and the Iowa State Fair, offer visitors free sensory bags that contain fidget toys and other tactile items that can reduce stress.
These organizations also post signs to indicate designated quiet zones and areas for low-to-high stimuli. They also offer a range of hands-on activities.
Also important: accessible facilities, trained staff or volunteers, and ongoing feedback from visitors, because sensory issues vary widely from one person to the next. They even vary within the same individual from day to day. People with SPD often face other challenges, too, with mobility, for example, and speech.
Organizations that want to become more sensory-friendly can find local experts, like those at ChildServe, a Central Iowa nonprofit that serves children with developmental delays, disabilities, injuries and other special needs. The Iowa State Fair partnered with ChildServe in 2022 to offer its first Sensory-Friendly Morning at the Fair, which has grown to include a welcome tent, two air-conditioned “Calm Your Body” and “Move Your Body” rooms, make-and-take activities and a new inclusive Variety Star Playground with accessible ramps and easy-to-navigate surfaces. ChildServe staff, plus students and faculty from Des Moines University’s and Drake University’s occupational therapy programs, helped staff the event.
Those new efforts enabled Cindy and Jason Pommrehn to take their son, Aedyn, 14, to the fair for the first time. He has a rare chromosome imbalance, Emanuel syndrome, that causes multiple health issues as well as physical and cognitive disabilities.
“Having that time made us feel so welcome, with staff who understand our needs,” said Cindy, a member of ChildServe’s family advisory council. Aedyn “loves horses and got to brush a horse tail and touch a piece of wool in the sheep barn.”
In addition to helping their son to enjoy new experiences, sensory-friendly spaces allow others to see and enjoy him as a human being, not as a medical condition. She pulled up a photo of Aedyn smiling in the family van on the way to the fair. “He’s giggly and smiles a lot, and since he hit puberty, he can be sassy and snarky without being verbal,” Cindy said. “He gives high-fives and loves school and being outside.”
ChildServe, a Central Iowa nonprofit serving children with special needs, now hosts sensory-friendly mornings at the Iowa State Fair for children to enjoy the fair in a calmer environment. Photo: Courtesy ChildServe
SENSORY-FRIENDLY SPACES ARE CATCHING ON
More Central Iowa organizations and events are working to be more inclusive and welcoming, especially for individuals with sensory needs. Chris Eckles, chief engagement officer at Blank Park Zoo, said being welcoming to all people requires a “team effort” to constantly look for ways to improve.
“Our staff want people to have a good time and learn about and love the animals as much as we do,” she said. “We want to inspire a connection to nature and a love for conservation, because everybody needs to be a part of that.”
In 2018, the zoo presented an idea for a sensory bag program to the 2018 class of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute. A 10-member team from the class not only embraced the idea but expanded it, landing a grant for the zoo to earn Sensory Inclusive Certification from KultureCity, an Alabama-based nonprofit that helps organizations, venues, events and other entities become more accessible. Blank Park Zoo became the first Iowa organization to earn the certification, which requires annual training for at least half of an entity’s employees; now nearly 20 Iowa organizations are KultureCity-certified.
“It’s really cool that came about thanks to the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, that these local leaders rose to the occasion to meet needs in our community,” Eckles said.
SENSORY-FRIENDLY IS FRIENDLY FOR ALL
Thirty-five years ago, passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act affirmed that disability rights are civil rights and protected people with disabilities from discrimination. Wheelchair-accessible buildings, designated parking spots, curb cuts and other enhancements became part of the landscape.
Today, families and advocates are working to expand the concept of accessibility to better serve and include people with sensory needs.
“Having sensory-friendly spaces waves a flag: ‘Come join us. You’re part of our community and you are welcome and safe here,’” said Jordan Juhl Marcon, ChildServe’s director of public relations. “It’s about helping [people] live their best lives. Greater accessibility benefits everyone.”
La France, the mother of Quincy, said her family has occasionally experienced just the opposite. They’ve been stared at or scorned when they’re out in public. They’ve taken Quincy to public restrooms where all the stalls are empty except the one that’s ADA-compliant.
“I don’t blame any special-needs parent for leaving their kid at home,” she said. “We want to protect our children from any critical judgment.”
That’s been a tough lesson to learn. La France said most people embark on the adventure of parenthood “with the hopes, dreams and expectations that life will be typical. When it’s not, it comes as a shock you’re not prepared for.”
But that journey follows a two-way street: She and her husband, Dan Hostager, don’t want their family to disturb other people who’ve bought tickets to enjoy a venue or an event.
“Sensory-friendly spaces allow everyone to have a positive experience,” she said. “They show compassion and empathy. They are what make our community so great and an area that can continue to blossom.”
Play on
For years, the Des Moines Playhouse has made certain designated performances more accessible with help from sign-language interpreters (for people who have difficulty hearing) and audio-description interpreters (for the visually impaired).
As part of its ongoing accessibility efforts, the Playhouse has recently added a handful of sensory-friendly performances to its schedule. At designated shows, various technical elements are toned down just a bit to accommodate patrons with sensory-processing disorders or other special needs. Sometimes the lights are dimmer, the sound is softer, and the overall runtime is shorter.
“Our goal is to make these performances joyful, low-stress and inclusive, while still preserving the heart of the theater experience,” according to a note on the Playhouse website.
In addition to changes in the action and effects on stage, audience members are encouraged to express themselves however the show moves them. They can move around freely and take breaks in quiet, calming zones out in the lobby. The Playhouse staff also offers resources in advance, so families know what to expect ahead of time.
This year’s sensory-friendly performances include:
Jan. 11: “Red Riding Hood”
May 10: “Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical”
For more details, visit dmplayhouse.com/sensory-friendly-performances.
Resources
Access for Special Kids (ASK) Resource Center is a parent training, information and advocacy center for families of children with special needs across Iowa. askresource.org
The Autism Society Iowa creates connections through advocacy and community programming to equip everyone in the autism community with resources to live fully. autismia.com
Balance Autism provides a variety of services, innovative therapy and passionate care for children and adults. balanceautism.org
ChildServe’s experts help identify and meet the needs of children with developmental delays, disabilities, injuries and other special health care needs. childserve.org
Central Iowa Center for Independent Living helps people with disabilities control their own lives and participate in their community. cicil.org
Easterseals and Camp Sunnyside annually provide services to more than 3,000 Iowa children and adults and their families. ia.easterseals.com
KultureCity offers training to venues, events, organizations, businesses and other entities to create and enhance sensory-inclusive environments. Its online map indicates venues that have earned its Sensory Inclusive Certification. kulturecity.org
LINK Associates helps people with intellectual disabilities and their families. linkassociates.org
Mindspring Mental Health Alliance provides no-cost mental health education, support and advocacy programs to benefit all community members. mindspringhealth.org
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