{"id":469483,"date":"2020-05-26T08:34:28","date_gmt":"2020-05-26T15:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/?p=469483"},"modified":"2026-02-12T17:19:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T01:19:28","slug":"interview-with-hannah-gadsby-on-autism-accommodations-and-performing-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/2020\/05\/26\/interview-with-hannah-gadsby-on-autism-accommodations-and-performing-live\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Hannah Gadsby on autism, accommodations and performing live"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hannah Gadsby on autism, accommodations and performing live<\/strong><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sharon daVanport<\/b><\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re one of the millions of people who watched comedian <\/span>Hannah Gadsby<\/span><\/a> fiercely take on homophobia, misogyny, sexism, and stereotypes surrounding disability and mental health in her award-winning Netflix special <\/span>Nanette<\/span><\/i><\/a>, then you\u2019ve probably already marked your calendars for her latest show <\/span>Douglas<\/span><\/i><\/a> to make its Netflix debut.<\/span><\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t quite sure how to take on writing this article, because on a personal level, I have <\/span>all the feels<\/b> about Hannah Gadsby. I developed a great deal of admiration for her ability to exude both vulnerable sensitivity and emotional strength during her show <\/span>Nanette<\/span><\/i>. Like Hannah, I\u2019m autistic, and this commonality alone provides me with enough material to write an entire book about how amazing it feels to have on-screen and on-stage representation in the performing arts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The disability community continues to be outspoken about the need to have <\/span>disabled representation on screen and stage<\/span><\/a>. It can be an especially painful and dismissive kind of erasure when we see actors and performers taking on roles or speaking on topics that they don\u2019t personally live and experience. With Hannah\u2019s unabashed revelations in <\/span>Nanette<\/span><\/i>, it was immediately evident that the disabled, neurodivergent, and queer communities have an expert spokesperson who won\u2019t hesitate to call out discrimination and oppression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Autistic people have long been stereotyped as humorless and unimaginative. Once Hannah came out as autistic to the entire world, it was like all of us in the autistic community could finally shout from the rooftops, \u201cSO THERE!\u201d as we embraced her alongside fans from all walks of life. Hannah busted the old autism stereotypes about humor, body language, and what self-advocacy should look like when she had millions of people rolling in laughter with her side-eye expressions and strategically timed punchlines that centered around her personal experiences with discrimination and violence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image
Image is a photo of Hannah Gadsby in a dark suit, holding some of her handmade pet rocks. A text box at the bottom says, \u201cADOPT A PET ROCK TODAY \/ No vaccinations required!* \/ *does not guarantee pet rocks will not be autistic\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After Hannah finished her <\/span>Douglas<\/span><\/i> tour, she agreed to answer a few questions for the Disability Visibility Project. She talked about what it\u2019s been like to request disability accommodations during her international comedy shows with her no-phone policy, and how she realizes she still needs to work on improvements to address competing access needs for herself and her audience members.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One realization that was immediately evident when interviewing Hannah was that she recognizes her no-phone policy has been an overall success but still considers it a work-in-progress. Hannah first asked fans not to bring their phones as a way of accommodating her own access needs. What some don\u2019t realize is Hannah also had other reasons for imposing the ban \u2013 including attempting to prevent any possible leaks of her material online before the Netflix release.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere were several reasons that I decided to use a no-phone policy for this tour,\u201d said Hannah. \u201cFirst off, knowing that the show would ultimately be filmed for Netflix, it was necessary to make sure that no footage or imagery of the material was captured in advance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The most important reason for the no-phone policy is specific to Hannah\u2019s sensory processing challenges, common among autistic people, which impact her ability to perform her comedy routine if there are unexpected and unpredictable stimuli in the room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cErrant lights and sounds in the audience are incredibly distracting for me, so the no-phone policy dramatically limited this,\u201d Hannah said. \u201cWith my autism, I find it near impossible to ignore disruptions in the audience during a performance, and would often (and still do) interrupt a show to figure out what was going on and try to put a stop to it. This affects the flow of the show for the whole crowd but could also make it really difficult for me to get back on track.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I talked to a couple of people in the disability community who attended live performances of <\/span>Douglas<\/span><\/i> and their feedback seemed to be on track with the improvements Hannah said she and her team are working to address when it comes to continuing her no-phone policy and accommodation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kris Guin<\/span><\/a>, an Autistic activist and founder of <\/span>Queeerability<\/span><\/a>, attended Hannah\u2019s <\/span>Douglas<\/span><\/i> performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Kris said his overall experience was enjoyable., \u201cHannah was as witty as ever,\u201d he said, adding that he\u2019s \u201clooking forward to more of Hannah\u2019s shows.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, Kris was concerned about the no-phone policy and the process for requesting an accommodation. People who needed to have their phone for a disability-related reason were required to wear a special identifying wristband during the show so that venue staff would know who was allowed to have a phone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDissemination of the accommodation for people who need their phone for a disability or medical reason wasn’t shared to all the staff at the Kennedy Center,\u201d Kris said, \u201cwhich led to some initial confusion with the first staff member we encountered that was later resolved by a different staff member. I also felt singled out by having to wear a wristband. I also didn’t appreciate the judgmental behavior from the other fans in our area of the theater for having our phones.\u201d <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>What could help, then? \u201cHaving someone make an announcement prior to the show starting about the phone policy would have mitigated that behavior,\u201d Kris recommended. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Thankfully for those of us who are excited for future shows, Hannah is open to these criticisms and plans to make improvements to the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne aspect of this system that we haven\u2019t been able to find a perfect solution for is how to accommodate exceptions without asking the people who need them to actively identify themselves upon arrival to the venues,\u201d Hannah said. \u201cI know as well as anyone that walking into a crowded room and asking for special treatment is demeaning and exhausting. Sadly, it\u2019s an unfortunate byproduct of the no-phone system that we need to ask already marginalized people to do just that. I\u2019m hoping to find a more comfortable way to create an accessible space for those who require their devices, but for the moment, I continue to be grateful to those who are patiently and graciously following the protocols that are in place, as it really does create a significantly improved performance environment for me.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Sandy Ho<\/span><\/a>, a disabled leader and community organizer in the greater Boston, MA area, attended a live performance of <\/span>Douglas.<\/span><\/i> She said that although she did not experience or personally witness any issues with access, she is concerned about another way the no-phone policy could exclude disabled people. Sandy explained that not only do many disabled people need a phone for immediate medical related needs, but that many other disabled people rely on their phones for transportation \u2013 including transportation home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[Many people] depend on paratransit where rides need to be scheduled in advance,\u201d Sandy said, \u201cand sometimes we don’t know exactly when a show ends or other times \u2013 the crowds getting out could make us late.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hannah explained that a company called <\/span>Yondr<\/span><\/a> oversees implementation of the no-phone policy and that they have experience executing these systems internationally in venues all over the world. Disability consultants have instructed Yondr about many of the possible reasons that people might need to keep their devices. And Yondr staff don\u2019t actually confiscate people\u2019s phones or require people to put their phones in a locker or a coatroom \u2013 attendees who are not receiving an accommodation simply put their phones in a special pouch, but can keep the pouch and their phone with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf someone needs their phone for a medical purpose, a heart or glucose monitor, or hearing aid, for example, Yondr has a system to make sure they can access it without issue during the show,\u201d Hannah said. \u201cIt\u2019s really important to me that everyone feel welcome at my shows, and I don\u2019t want this accommodation to be a hindrance to anyone wanting to attend. When people have medical exceptions, I get a list of where permitted devices might be visible in the theater, so that I know to expect it. It\u2019s the surprise lights that really get me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But even though many disabled people have been concerned about the no-phone policy, and possibly having to disclose their disabilities to be able to bring their phones when needed, other feedback has been positive. Hannah and many fans have pointed out many possible benefits to the no-phone policy that extend beyond Netflix\u2019s copyright concerns or even Hannah\u2019s individual access needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt turns out people really appreciate turning their phones off for a bit!\u201d Hannah said. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve been delighted to see that the hubbub is back in the auditorium before a show. Because no one is trying to finish this last text or email, everyone is talking to each other and much more present.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As many autistic people know from painful personal experience, it\u2019s often rare for us to be able to both express our access needs and to have the people around us agree to respect them. Hannah recognizes the significance of this support from her fans \u2013 and we hope that as she helps normalize the need to respect sensory differences, other spaces will also become more accessible and welcoming for autistic people too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy audience generally has been incredibly supportive about the no-phone policy, which, by the way, also extends to any other electronic device \u2013 smart watches, Fitbits, iPads, basically anything that can make a light or sound in an otherwise dark, quiet room,\u201d Hannah said. \u201cI\u2019ve been really grateful to see how respectful that vast majority of the people who come to my shows are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With all the support Hannah has received with respect to honoring her accommodation request, she did admit that there have been a few times when some people have tried to keep their phones for non-medical or non-emergency reasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, there are always going to be a few people who do not want to cooperate,\u201d Hannah said. \u201cWe have had some instances of audience members trying to sneak in phones or other devices, sometimes more subtly than others. The response to this varies \u2013 venue staff are instructed to eject any patron seen using a device, especially if they are recording or taking photos. It\u2019s very rare that we\u2019ve had this happen, though. If a device becomes too distracting, and the front of house staff haven\u2019t seen it or can\u2019t easily access the patron, then as I said above, I\u2019ll stop the show to investigate what\u2019s going on, and usually after I call someone out in front of a couple thousand people, they don\u2019t do it again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Appreciative of her fans for understanding her accommodation request, Hannah ended the interview with words of gratitude. \u201cI continue to be grateful to those who are patiently and graciously following the protocols that are in place,\u201d she said, \u201cas it really does create a significantly improved performance environment for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As founder of the <\/span>Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network<\/span><\/a>, I can\u2019t pen an article about Hannah\u2019s <\/span>Douglas<\/span><\/i> Show without expressing how all of us at AWN will be forever grateful to Hannah.\u00a0 After learning about our work, she took her <\/span>\u201cwhy you might want to get a pet-rock\u201d <\/span><\/i>joke from her <\/span>Douglas<\/span><\/i> Show and turned it into a fundraiser to support our mission at AWN during her month-long run in New York City. If you missed Hannah\u2019s hilarious pet-rock fundraiser announcement on the Colbert Show, you can catch a clip of it <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is impossible\u00a0 to underestimate how powerful it is for Hannah to thoughtfully and strategically use her platform by shining a spotlight on the abuses and violence experienced by disabled, autistic, and LGBTQIA+ people, as well as calling out everyday ableism, anti-queer and anti-trans oppression, and misogyny! She\u2019s talked openly about her own struggles with mental health, coming out as autistic, and living in the world as an out and proud queer woman. Oh, and did I mention she somehow manages to tackle all of this by provoking gut-wrenching laughter in less than an hour?<\/span><\/p>\n

Long live Hannah Gadsby (and pet rocks)!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"A
A mixed Native and white person with large square glasses and long, flowing brown hair, looking directly at the camera and smiling widely and warmly. They are wearing a light pink collared shirt.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sharon daVanport is Founder and Executive Director of the Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network (AWN). Sharon\u2019s work encompasses several aspects of the wider disability justice movement, including steering committee member of the National Disability Leadership Alliance, represents AWN on the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, serves as treasurer for Crushing Colonialism, and is on the advisory board for Felicity House in NYC. Sharon is co-editor along with Emily Paige Ballou and Kristina Thomas of <\/span>What Every Autistic Girl Wishes Her Parents Knew<\/span><\/i>, self-published by AWN. They have spoken before the United Nations and the White House and received recognition from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network for their contribution to the self-advocacy movement, and the Autism Society of America’s Dr. Temple Grandin award for outstanding literary work of the year. Outside of Sharon\u2019s work in autistic advocacy, they have nearly a decade of experience as a social worker, and they are a parent of four diversely neurodivergent adults.<\/span><\/p>\n

Twitter: <\/span>@s_davanport<\/span><\/a> @awnnetwork_<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Website: <\/span>https:\/\/awnnetwork.org\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Support Disability Media and Culture<\/b><\/p>\n

DONATE<\/b><\/a>\u00a0to the Disability Visibility Project\u00ae<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hannah Gadsby on autism, accommodations and performing live   Sharon daVanport If you\u2019re one of the millions of people who watched comedian Hannah Gadsby fiercely take on homophobia, misogyny, sexism, … Continue Reading Interview with Hannah Gadsby on autism, accommodations and performing live<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":469489,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6701202],"tags":[3471,173786,12360,333023,587152448,587152896,1240544,587152897,3107544,6234,58990044,587152894,13072696,5004,44962,587152679,171022819,587152895,32307,139432],"class_list":["post-469483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guest-blog-posts","tag-accessibility","tag-accommodations","tag-autism","tag-autistic","tag-autistic-community","tag-autistic-culture","tag-autistic-people","tag-autistic-representation","tag-autistics","tag-comedy","tag-disability-representation","tag-hannah-gadsby","tag-lgbtqia","tag-mental-health","tag-mental-illness","tag-netflix","tag-neurodivergent","tag-neurodivergent-people","tag-neurodiversity","tag-performers","post-has-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ADOPT-A-PET-ROCK-TODAY-copy.png?fit=791%2C631&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4H7t1-1Y8j","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/469483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=469483"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/469483\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/469489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=469483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=469483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=469483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}