These recommendations are from Dr. Misty’s webinar ”The Science of a Dynamic Warm-Up with Dr…
Making Inclusive Spaces for the Neurodiverse (Part 1 of 2)
These recommendations are from Jojo Fox’s webinar ”IPIA Webinar: Neurospicy Friendly: how can we make our studio spaces more friendly with Jojo Fox” held on July 29, 2025. iPIA members can view the entire webinar at this link.
This is a continuation of the themes from Jojo’s prior webinar “IPIA Webinar: Neurodiversity in pole – what is it? How can we be more inclusive as teachers and students? with Jojo Fox” held on November 19, 2025. IPIA members can view that entire webinar at this link.
Recap
In this talk, Jojo goes over some general things about being neurodivergent or neurospicy (the fun slang way of saying neurodivergent).
Being neurodivergent/neurospicy simply means a person’s brain has a natural variation in how it functions and how they process input, especially sensory input.
Those who are not neurodivergent are often referred to as “neurotypical.” Many of the recommendations on how to make your space more neurodivergent friendly will also improve the experience for those who are neurotypical.
Improve the Lighting
Harsh or flickering lights can cause over stimulation, disorientation, and/or physical pain for our neurodivergent friends. They can also trigger migraines or seizures. Sudden light transitions can affect participants the same as a jump scare and put their body into fight or flight mode.
Jojo suggests using warm, white lighting hooked up to a dimmable switch. Cold, white lighting will give your space a clinical feel. Strobe or flashing lights can trigger fight or flight in both neurodivergent and neurotypical folks or cause seizures in folks with epilepsy. Even people who don’t have a formal diagnosis can be affected by flashing or strobed lights.
For events like performances or photoshoots, make sure participants have had a chance to see what the environment will be prior to the event. If a performance has light effects, make an announcement to the audience prior to the performance and allow people in the audience time to leave if they think they may be triggered.
Moderate Sound and Noise
Layered noise can make it impossible for neurodivergent students to concentrate on the instructor or verbal instructions being given, especially those with ADHD or auditory processing disorders.
Jojo recommends having a sound system where the instructor has control over starting/stopping the music and turning the volume up/down. Music can be turned down or paused when the instructor needs to give verbal cues. In classes where material is mostly review, or in a warm up that is pretty similar class-to-class, students can follow visual cues (with the obvious exception being if you have students with visual impairments).
No one likes being yelled at, so if you feel like you need to yell to be heard, turn the music down or off. Reducing echo will also make your studio more neurodivergent friendly. Having curtains over windows, sound dampening panels, and other sound absorbing objects in the space will help.
Some students may choose to wear earplugs during class, especially if auditory stimulation often leads them to feel overstimulated. Brands like Loops, Flare, and Eargasm are designed to dampen sound without reducing quality and have become extremely popular at music venues.
To Be Continued in Part 2
This posts contains just two sensory inputs that may be overwhelming for neurodivergent folks, and suggestions for how to make your space more friendly for your neurospicy students.
Pole attracts a lot of neurodivergent folks, so it’s likely some instructors or studio owners also fall into the neurospicy category. Jojo Fox is a studio owner and instructor who is openly neurospicy. These tips will improve classes not just for your students, but also for your instructors.
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