How to have a Neurodivergent Friendly Songwriting Camp Experience

Recently I was asked to take part in a week long Production Music Songwriting Camp aimed at neurodivergent and disabled artists creating music for the Paralympics. I reflected on the full experience on my artist blog, but I also wanted to pull out the practical things that actually made a difference and the parts that could be useful for anyone planning future ND-friendly creative events.
This is less a review and more a collection of things that I think help neurodivergent participants show up, settle in and take part without burning out.

Communication: Before, During and After

Clear communication is the biggest support for neurodivergent creatives. Things that help:
• onboarding that supports ND participants, for example clear pre-event emails, a simple overview of how the camp will run, who will greet you on arrival and what to bring so you’re not guessing
• written instructions in accessible formats
• clear structure and expectations
• knowing the schedule with enough time to process it
• letting people know what will happen and when
• consistent contact before, during and after the event

An access rider can also help gather individual needs without anyone having to over explain on the day.

Physical and Location Considerations

Getting to a new space can be stressful, especially when you’re processing a lot already. Simple things reduce the load.
Things that help:
• clear instructions on how to get there using multiple travel options
• pictures of the building from the outside
• a walkthrough video of how to enter and where to go
• knowing where toilets, kitchens and breakout areas are
• allocation of a quiet space or multiple spaces
• clarity about who to ask for help if needed
• sensory considerations around lights, sound, heating and comfort
• identifying any known people who will be present for maintaining psychological safety

These things reduce the anxiety loop of “where am I going” so people can save their energy for actual creative work.

Designing the Schedule

The internal pace of neurodivergent people can be very different from the external pace of a songwriting camp.
Things to consider building in:
• pacing and processing time between sessions, maybe even a day or morning off
• avoiding chaotic briefing styles
• transparency about deliverables, deadlines and expectations
• simple, clear social expectations
• compassion around communication differences
• grounding space to check in at the start of the day
• a short debrief at the end of the day so people can safely disconnect and not carry everything home

Safeguarding mental load is important in high-output environments. Even encouraging a 10 minute quiet break can prevent shutdown or overwhelm later.

Supporting Group Dynamics and Psychological Safety

Collaboration is often portrayed as fast, flexible and socially fluid. For neurodivergent people, that can be the opposite of what works.
Useful things organisers can include:
• clarity about roles in each writing group
• a process for raising issues within group dynamics
• awareness of masking and how exhausting it can be
• options for people to step out temporarily without drama
• boundaries and expectations around noise and interruptions such as letting people know when you’ll pop in
• recognition that not everyone communicates or processes at the same speed
• a culture of checking in without pressure

For some of us, feeling safe enough to contribute takes time. A thoughtful setup makes a huge difference.

How Participants Can Prepare

Some people won’t need this at all, especially if they’re experienced, but many ND artists find it helpful to know:
• what to bring
• whether they should prepare anything in advance
• whether they need to come with ideas ready
• what the format of the day actually looks like
• what the expectations are around socialising
• who to contact with questions
• whether there’s a quiet room

Even a simple “here’s what to expect” guide can save a lot of anxiety.

And how do you prepare as an artist if you’re not used to these kinds of environments?

The best prep you can do is bring awareness to your underlying skills and reawaken them if necessary. Maybe you haven’t written a song for a bit and need a little reminder of how to do this quickly. Enter an online challenge or create your own from a prompt or brief and just try making something to flex those songwriting muscles. Maybe you’re a singer and you’ve not performed for a bit. Make sure you warm up regularly in the run up to the event and be ready to use your skills. Maybe you feel a bit scared about sharing songs. Can you make and share something before the event to practice experiencing any uncomfortable feelings and learn from it a little. Maybe you need a bit of practice working collaboratively. Could you try a low key collab before going or rework someone else’s track?

A Quick Q&A for Organisers

• Does your venue have a quiet room or alternative space available?

• Have you given written instructions for travel and access with pictures/ video walkthroughs?

• Do they know the rough schedule at least a little ahead of time?

• Are timings consistent throughout the week? Are any changes being communicated asap?

• Are deliverables and expectations transparent and written down?

• Is there a way to raise issues safely?

• Have you accounted for sensory needs (lighting, sound, temperature)?

• Is there processing time built into the day?

TLDR:

Neurodivergent artists need clarity, pacing, accessible communication and environments that support how our brains actually work. Small adjustments and considerations create huge differences in safety, confidence and creative output.

If future songwriting camps or events build even a few of these ideas in, more people will be able to take part fully without masking, burning out or disappearing halfway through the week. I really appreciated the day off in the middle of the camp this time which really allowed for time to process what had happened so far and to re-energise for the next part.

If we want to enjoy the output of neurodivergent artists we need to understand them as whole people who have differing communication, sensory and emotional needs. In building acceptance and accommodations into planning events we can help normalise neurodivergent needs and create a more even playing field- let’s have more of this please!