CompanyZE is a new, playful and dynamic access-led dance and consultancy company. The company prides itself on having a collaborative, empathetic and curious model of working. With a focus on creating intentional and supportive frameworks for use in the creative industries, CompanyZE brings a niche in focusing on neurodiversity, drawing from ZE’s own experiences to create a unique service that delivers what is missing from creative spaces right now.
CONSULTANCY & COORDINATION
We offer in-the-room access consultancy rooted in lived neurodivergent experience, supported by the most recent research & practices. By proactively supporting creative teams, CompanyZE enables you to build truly accessible, empathetic, and sustainable working environments which lead to greater creative output. ZE will tailor any adjustments to your company, space, process and goals.
We will always put access first when working with clients, making fundamental changes to transform working practices. We recognise that access is a uniquely individual experience, and that not all adjustments will accommodate everyone in a space. But, with this dedicated support, we hope to begin to raise awareness of the need to prioritise access in all working spaces.
MY STORY
After having performed in the dance industry for a number of years I found that even when spaces had been made ‘accessible’, they fell short and many inclusion requirements had been forgotten.
Due to my hidden disabilities I have also experienced having to ‘prove it’, which often results in only being helped once I have become visibly distressed and when I am unable to function at work.
This is devastating and it's my goal to change that. Having someone in the space with experience who can suggest changes before reaching breaking point and to support with the emotional labour of making changes can be transformative for neurodiverse individuals.
People:
Provide in person support for crisis management
Manage multiple contrasting access needs and devise a plan to provide the most accessible experience
Work across multiple teams to maintain communication and iron out queries within the team about working with a disabled artists
Recommend & assist in implementing the reasonable adjustments needed in a space based on personal access needs
Provide support, training & advocacy for neurodiverse people on navigating new spaces
Paperwork:
Recommended and coordinate the hiring & onboarding of other support (eg translators, scribes, bsl interpreters, captioners etc)
Devise new training processes for staff to ensure inclusion & access is carried across all temporary & permanent staff members and partner companies
Provide access & inclusion training documents, videos & workshops
Edit current policies from an inclusive perspective
Break down how to deal with access riders and what it actually means to run a space accessibility
Places:
Consult on & implement the creation of institutional shifts in processes with access at its core
Take current processes and offering consultancy on how to adapt/progress this to embed inclusivity
Provide an extra body in the space to reduce emotional labour & maintain inclusive practices
Assess spaces for accessibility & inclusion and recommend accommodations within your budget
Implement sensory friendly accommodations including inclusive timetabling