In 2022, EventWell® conducted independent research exploring the lived experience of neurodivergent individuals and those with mental health conditions attending live events.
We surveyed 165 respondents.
What we found changed the direction of our work – and ultimately shaped the development of not only our SensoryCalm service and support, but both the Neuroinclusion Maturity Index™ (NMI™) and QSSS™.
This research provides an experience-led representation of neurodivergent individuals within live event environments, highlighting structural barriers to participation and psychological safety. This data is not generic, it is not secondary and it is not adapted from elsewhere. It is EventWell® research, conducted in 2022, and published in our industry white paper:
Neurodiversity & Live Events: From Environmental Intent to Safeguarding-Led Provision.
You can download the full report below. But first, let’s talk about what we found.
85% Are Actively Avoiding Events
85% of respondents reported not attending an event due to fear of becoming overwhelmed, triggered or unwell.
That is not mild discomfort, that is withdrawal from participation.
Neuroinclusion is not simply an accessibility issue, it is an attendance issue.
88% Do Not Feel Understood
88% of respondents feel event organisers do not have enough understanding of their needs.
This reflects a perceived competence and empathy gap. Environmental adjustments alone do not generate trust.
Understanding must be visible and support must be structured.
Only 15% Feel Confident Asking for Help
This is one of the most significant findings.
Only 15% of respondents would feel confident asking an organiser for support at an event.
That means 85% would not.
The barrier is not always the absence of provision, it is the perceived safety of disclosure.
If people do not feel safe asking for help, the support structure – however well-intentioned – remains inaccessible.
82% Want Quiet Rooms
82% of respondents said they would find a quiet room helpful.
The demand is clear.
But here is the confidence gap:
82% would value the space, but only 15% feel confident approaching organisers.
Provision without governance and supervision does not resolve that gap.
The Top Triggers of Overwhelm
Respondents identified:
• Crowds
• Noise
• Navigation and wayfinding
• Lack of rest areas or breaks
• Lighting
Navigation ranked almost as highly as noise.
Operational design, flow, and clarity are as important as environmental adjustments.
This is not just about dimming the lights, it is about how events function.
What the Data Tells Us About Safety – Not Just Accessibility
One of the most important findings from our 2022 research is often overlooked.
While much of the industry conversation focuses on environmental adjustments, our data revealed something deeper: 55% of respondents ranked supervised EventWell Host presence as the most important Quiet Room feature.
Not lighting, not headsets, not decaf drinks – support, and this matters.
Neurodivergent attendees are not simply asking for a quieter space – they are asking for psychological safety, structured support, and visible accountability.
When placed alongside the wider findings:
- 85% have avoided events due to fear of becoming overwhelmed
- 88% feel organisers do not fully understand their needs
- Only 15% would feel confident asking for help
…the message becomes clear.
The issue is not just sensory design, it is trust.
The presence of trained supervision changes the perception of safety, it reduces the emotional labour placed on attendees, it signals that support is proactive, not reactive.
Neuroinclusion at live events is not about adding a room, it is about designing systems that make people feel safe enough to attend in the first place.
The Bigger Insight: Inclusion Without Governance Fails Psychologically
The data revealed something deeper.
Environmental inclusion does not automatically create psychological safety.
Supervision, accountability, escalation pathways, and visible governance structures influence trust.
That is why our work evolved from quiet rooms alone to:
• The Neuroinclusion Maturity Index™ (NMI™)
• QSSS™ – Quiet Room Safety & Supervision Standard
Both frameworks were directly informed by this 2022 research.
Ownership & Attribution
This research was:
Conducted by EventWell® in 2022 with 165 respondents, focused specifically on live event environments
It forms part of EventWell’s intellectual property. Data may not be reproduced or cited without appropriate attribution to EventWell®.
If you are referencing statistics such as:
• 85% event avoidance
• 88% perceived lack of understanding
• 15% confidence in seeking support
• 82% demand for quiet rooms
Please ensure EventWell® is cited as the source.
This matters. Not because of ego, but because clarity protects integrity.
Download the White Paper
If you work in:
• Event organising
• Venue management
• Exhibition operations
• Association leadership
• Event safety and compliance
This is essential reading.
Download the full report here:
The Event Sector Opportunity
The opportunity is not to add more surface-level inclusion.
The opportunity is to move from:
Environmental Intent → Supported Provision → Safeguarding-Led Governance
That progression is where real trust is built, and trust is what closes the confidence gap.
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