Visual story: how to prepare for your visit & what to expect
Follow this visual and written guide to help plan your visit to the Autistic Pride Day Melbourne Symposium
A 'Visual Story' is a step-by-step guide designed to help those with autism or sensory sensitivities to plan their visit to Autistic Pride Day at the Commons. This Visual Story will illustrate how to access the Commons building where we are hosting the Autistic Pride Day Melbourne Symposium, what to expect upon arrival and what you might experience throughout the different spaces.
Autistic Pride Day is held within ‘The Commons’ QV
QV is located on the corner of Swanson and Londsdale Streets in Melbourne’s CBD.
QV is located along 2 main roads; the entrance can be loud and busy with both traffic on the roads and foot traffic.
You can plan your journey to QV using the PTV Journey Planner or Google Maps.
Finding the Commons
The Commons is located on Albert Coates Lane within the QV building. You can access the laneway from Swanson Street, or from the corner as shown in the image. The Commons is towards the back of the laneway, on the right-hand side.
On weekends the laneway can be busy with people shopping. The laneway is partically covered with artificial lights on the ceiling, natural light comes in from the far end.
Entering the Commons
The Commons is accessed through large glass electric doors. The doors will be locked and a staff member will be there to open them for you.
The staff member will ask if you have a ticket to the event, you will need to show them your ticket, or purchase a ticket at the door.
The staff member will be friendly and answer any questions you may have.
Entering the Commons
Once you have had your ticket checked, the staff member will direct you upstairs. You can walk up a large staircase with a handrail, or use the lift. Once upstairs follow the signs to the room you are looking for. You can always ask a staff member for help. Inside the space is typically quiet.
Workshop spaces
If you are attending a workshop session you will be in a meeting room with a large table and 18 chairs. The lighting is overhead bright yellow light. The door is a large glass sliding door.
The Amphitheatre: seminar spaces
If you are attending a seminar session it will be held in the amphitheater. Seats are tiered circular benches, covered with soft carpet. There are some pillows around for your comfort. Lighting is overhead bright yellow light, as well as natural light from the large windows behind. This is a large and open space. This space is very bright.
The Amphitheatre: Filmed sessions
All seminar sessions will be filmed by our production team. Speakers will be using microphones to record their voice, it will not amplify the sound. The production team will have 2 large white lights pointing into the amphitheater, as well as multiple cameras to record video.
You have the option to select a seating location that allows for filming or choose to be positioned behind the cameras where you will not be captured on film.
Sensory friendly rooms
There are 4 quiet spaces you can use. 3 of these are small rooms separated by a soft curtain. The lighting varies from room to room.
Quiet room
The 4th quiet room is larger, with low lighting and completely carpeted walls, floor and ceiling. It is separated with a glass sliding door made of partially transparent glass.
The Library
The library is a space next to the kitchen with large windows overlooking the main entrance to QV. It is quiet and has dimmer lighting than the kitchen. There are round tables and couches to sit on. Books are organised by colour.
Toilets
There is male, female, and gender-neutral bathrooms. All bathrooms have stalls. All bathrooms have hand dryers. The hand dryers can be very loud.
Kitchen
The kitchen is a large open space opposite the amphitheater. You can help yourself to a glass of cold, sparkling, or tap water. There is tea and coffee making equipment available. The coffee machine can be loud.
Depending on how many people are in the kitchen, the space can be busy and loud at times.
There is no food on offer within the space. You can bring something to eat from home, or exit the building to find food in one of the many shops and restaurants surrounding the QV building.
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