Accessibility & Guest Services

Accessibility matters. Whether you need ramp access for your wheelchair or are looking for sensory-friendly concert options, we are thinking of you.

The Max has elevators, barrier-free restrooms, and accessible seating on each level. Security staff are available at all entrances to help patrons requiring extra assistance in and out of vehicles. We offer donor and patron valet parking, and a golf cart-style courtesy shuttle for patrons who would like extra assistance entering The Max as well as all patrons who have paid for valet services. The DSO also offers sensory toolkits and a quiet room, available during every event at The Max. See below for more information.

DSO COURTESY SHUTTLE

Graciously donated by Lee and Floy Barthel, the DSO offers a golf cart-style courtesy shuttle for patrons who would like extra assistance entering The Max. The shuttle pick-up point is located on Parsons Street, near Sosnick Courtyard. This shuttle is available for all DSO patrons who need assistance as well as patrons who have paid for valet services, with priority given to those in need of assistance.

SENSORY TOOLKITS

Available at the Box Office during all events at The Max, the DSO offers sensory toolkits to use free of charge, courtesy of the Mid-Michigan Autism Association. The kits contain items that can help calm or stimulate a person with a sensory processing difference, including noise-reducing headphones and fidget toys.

WHAT
• A sensory toolkit contains items that can help calm or stimulate a person with a sensory processing difference. The DSO's kits contain noise-reducing headphones and a few fidget toys (e.g., fidget spinner).

WHY
• Sensory processing is how the brain processes sensory input (what you hear, smell, taste, touch). When someone's brain does not detect sensory inputs or does not respond appropriately, this is called a sensory processing difference. People can be over sensitive or under sensitive to sensory information. A sensory toolkit can be useful to help regulate the nervous system.

WHO
• Anyone can experience sensory processing differences, and they occur across a broad spectrum of severity. People with autism or attention deficit disorder frequently experience some amount of sensory processing differences.

WHERE
• Patrons can check out a sensory toolkit at the Box Office for any event at The Max. A current driver's license or other form of ID is required to be left at the Box Office while the toolkit is checked out.

QUIET ROOM

The DSO also has a quiet room, available for patrons to use at every performance, located on the third floor of the Atrium.

WHAT
• The quiet room is a dedicated space someone can visit to take a break when they are feeling overstimulated or overwhelmed while at The Max.

• Typically, a quiet room has three main features: soft/warm lighting, motor stimulation tools (e.g., exercise ball to sit/bounce on), and pressure/tactile tools (e.g., weighted lap pad).

WHO
• A quiet room is used by people who may need a “sensory” break, including people with autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, ADHD/ADD, Alzheimer’s/dementia, and PTSD.

WHY
• A quiet room provides individuals who process sensory inputs differently (i.e., those sensitive to sounds, smells, touch, or visual stimuli) with a quiet and calming environment.

• A quiet room is a resource that aids prevention, de-escalation, and self-regulation strategies.

WHERE
• The quiet room at The Max is located on the third floor of the Atrium.