Calling Autistic* Youth Who Love Music: Have Your Say!

Xenia Concerts, Canada’s neurodiversity-focused concert series, is building a small and dynamic team of Autistic* youth to help make concert experiences more autism-friendly. The Xenia Concerts ASD Youth Advisory Council will be self-directed and led by a member of the autism community, with support from Xenia Concerts staff and partners.

We are seeking four (4) candidates to serve as general council members, who:

• Are aged 14-20
• Self-identify as Autistic/a person with autism
• Are interested in music
• Want to help make live concerts more enjoyable for the autism and neurodiversity community
• Want to develop professional skills like communication, organization, and event design in a warm and welcoming environment

Additionally, we are seeking one (1) candidate to lead the meetings as Council Chair. This candidate should meet the above description and have:

• Strong organizational and leadership skills
• Prior experience on a committee or council (e.g., student council, youth group)

As a member of the ASD Youth Advisory Council (YAC), you will play an important role in helping Xenia Concerts improve its accessibility practices and spread knowledge of neurodiversity-friendly practices. Here are some of the things you’ll discuss:

• How to adapt physical spaces to create an autism-friendly environment
• How to design concert experiences that appeal to Autistic children, youth, and their families
• How to prepare audiences for their first concert experience
• How musicians, staff, and volunteers can create a supportive environment for neurodivergent listeners

As a member of the YAC, your duties will include:

• Preparing for meetings
• Communicating with other council members and Xenia Concerts staff via email
• Meeting once a month on Zoom 
• Discussing concert design and making recommendations 
• Designing two concert experiences with the help of Xenia Concerts staff and musicians

Application deadline: April 30, 2023

APPLY NOW

Questions?

Contact Alexandra Prefasi

*Based on feedback from individuals within the autism community, Xenia Concerts alternates between person first (i.e, person with autism) and identity-first (i.e., Autistic person) language. We continue to follow the evolution of language use within the autism, neurodiversity, and disability communities. In one-on-one interactions, we follow the preferences of the individual with lived experience.