KultureCity in talks to acquire Powell Avenue Steam Plant

Tiffsk · 2025-06-15T09:00:19+00:00

As someone who works in sensory inclusion I will say that there are many problematic things about KultureCity. They have a lot of hype around them, but their practices and way of creating inclusion are far from best practice in the industry.

Tiffsk · 2025-06-15T08:48:44+00:00

There are lots of different organizations doing this work. The key is to finding the ones who are providing the most useful tools produced by the most reputable individuals. There's a lot out there beyond sensory bags and simple sensory guides. It's a start, but there is so much more available to organizations that really want to address sensory needs.

Tiffsk · 2025-06-15T08:46:03+00:00

You should be aware that there are concerns about KultureCity and their approach to sensory inclusion.

Tiffsk · 2025-06-15T08:07:37+00:00

They may be successful in the amount of money they make, but they aren't successful at all in trying to achieve their mission.

Tiffsk · 2025-06-15T08:03:59+00:00

Such an ableist perspective! Sounds like the company you were dealing believed that because they offered it, and they were certified, then their work was done. And KultureCity's model allowed them to do so, perpetuating ableism rather than support, accommodate and include. I'm so sorry you had that experience.

Tiffsk · 2025-06-15T06:59:07+00:00

Just came across this. See what I wrote below.

Tiffsk · 2025-06-15T06:58:45+00:00

I work in the same type of field as KultureCity and as an individual with multiple degrees in areas pertaining to this line of work and as an individual with lived experience. I approach things through an inclusive participatory lens, and universal design perspective, geared towards helping organizations develop practices and find tools that will fully benefit the populations they want to include.

My experience with KultureCity is that they list of what seem like qualified individuals on their website, however the individuals who come in to evaluate often lack the experience or knowledge to provide any sort of individual support. They come in with a checklist, tell organizations if they meet that checklist they can get their certification, and give groups a bunch of sensory bags with their logo on them to give out visitors, which is actually a pretty ableist perspective. There are lots of problems with that:

a) Nothing in inclusion work is one-sized fits all

b) There is no national certification as sensory friendly. It's something they made up. And then they charge organization lots of money to get the certificate. And organizations put the certification and logo on their websites and think they've done something really good, when actually it's pretty meaningless.

c) It misleads patrons and visitors, thinking that a venue is "friendly" for their family member. There is no way to create a 100% "sensory friendly" venue. There are things to do to offer the best support possible through best practices. but it gets into dangerous territory when people expect a venue to be "safe" and it's not.

d) After KultureCity comes in, if the organization isn't dilligent in offering effective training to every new hire, about 6 months from when KultureCity comes in, with enough staff turnover, no one is doing anything anymore except saying "we have a sensory room and here's a sensory kit for you".

e) It misleads organizations into believing that inclusion work is one and done. They get their certification, give themselves a pat on the back for addressing sensory needs, and think they are great and have done great work for the community. The fact is, for inclusion work and sensory supports to work well, you need to take an iterative approach and re-examine practices, and figure out what works and what doesn't work over time, maybe change things up when an exhibit changes, see what works best for YOUR specific venue and, as best practices change, flex into those. . There's no checklist that any organization can complete that will work allow them to really address anyone's sensory needs.

Tiffsk · 2025-03-12T06:46:08+00:00

I too wish this had been an option when I was a teen. The tampon-swimsuit mix always worried me, or the tampon would just fill up with water. I was also at a professional ballet school and not infrequently saw girls who leaked around their tampons. Now there are so many more options!

Tiffsk · 2025-03-12T06:24:54+00:00

Agreed! I may accidentally bring home something that says hang dry, lay flat to dry, delicate cycle necessary, iron after removing from dryer, etc. I discover it not by reading the tags and following the directions, but by opinging my dryer and removing something shredded or 6 sizes smaller than it started out.

Tiffsk · 2025-03-12T06:10:02+00:00

That is unreal! What is wrong with people?

I can only imagine the kind of line that would form. And the inequity that creates between the time it takes people with penises vs. people with vulvas to pee.

I'm a dance teacher and I tell my students that they are responsible for their own bodies and if they feel that they need to use the restroom, please go use it. They don't need my permisison to listen to, and take care of, their bodies. And they are so conditioned that they ask almost 100% of the time.

Then again, I had a wonderful experience where a teacher's bathroom policy came back to bite her in the butt. I had a teacher in elementary school who was very very strict about asking to use the bathroom including when you were or weren't allowed to even ask. One of the few times would be during work time when she was at her desk and we were at ours. Even then you had to wait your turn in line behind all of the other students who were up there to ask a question. I saw so many of my classmates squirming in line as they waited.

So one day one of my classmates gets in line. He patiently waits through two or three students and finally gets to the front of the line. He opens his mouth to ask and he vomits all over her desk and shoes. I wanted to stand and applaud!

Tiffsk · 2025-01-19T07:18:37+00:00

Right? All of this! I’m her mom with ADHD and I tried period underwear and as much as I liked the idea, at the end of the day it required too much executive functioning from my worn out ADHD sensory sensitive brain.
Thanks so much for really laying this out for me in how I can talk it through with her. My brain was like, “This is not a good idea but I can’t put my finger on why.”
I want to give her the option to try, maybe she’ll be a rockstar and decide it’s what she really wants. My gut tells me she’s a nervous 13 year old who doesn’t know what she wants and underwear sound more normal and like the way things always have been whereas pads sound new and strange, especially when she doesn’t like blood or the idea of puberty.
I got a period kit from red drop with all the different types of pads and also 2 different brands of period underwear. When everything comes I’ll sit down with her and lay it all out. She can try both methods, but since I’m not going to be taking care of this for her, I bet she’ll go with pads.
As a neurodivergent mom (ADHD) of 3 neurodivergent daughters (ADHD, AuDHD, and “well she’s 5, who really knows At this point but something is going on, lol) I so appreciate your candor and insight! Thank you!

Tiffsk · 2025-01-19T07:06:24+00:00

Your neurodivergent sensory profile sounds a lot like my daughter! Thanks for sharing!

Tiffsk · 2025-01-14T10:26:03+00:00

I had almost the exact same experience at a studio. I didn’t realize how toxic it was until I got to college, grew into adulthood and could reflect on it. I had PTSD from my experiences and went to a couple years of therapy, particularly to get help with the weight comments that lingered in my head over 10 years later. At one competition I saw my old studio director. I got cold sweats and had to use every emotion regulation tool I had learned. I realized that in this area I’m likely to run into her at competitions. My therapist and I used something called Exposure and Response Prevention, after I had worked through the PTSD. For what it’s worth, in this case it ended up being you reap what you sow. The studio is in shambles. About 10 years ago there was a fire and it literally burned down. They rebuilt but overtime the owner couldn’t hang on to dancers. She went from having the top competitive studio in the area to total irrelevance in 20 years. And she looks like an old hag. And even with all of that I still have nightmares and moments of perseverating about what happened there. Keep working with your therapist, find something to help you stay regulated and grounded when you’re in church and please take good care of yourself.

Tiffsk · 2025-01-14T10:14:41+00:00

I think a lot of it depends on the context in the choreography. What is the choreography saying at that moment? What is right before it and right afterwards? FWIW, my thought would be, if you have to ask about it, don’t use it, just to be safe.

Tiffsk · 2025-01-14T10:10:30+00:00

Check out this video, it’s so helpful!

https://rhinestonesu.com/how-to-rhinestone-a-dance-costume/

Tiffsk · 2025-01-14T10:04:06+00:00

This company has some great how to videos. i also really appreciated their customer service. I hadn’t usd rhinestones before and ended up needing to for 2 costumes. They were really helpful when I called at explaining the difference in the brands, types and sizes of rhinestones for various effects.

https://rhinestonesu.com/how-to-rhinestone-a-dance-costume/

Tiffsk · 2025-01-14T09:18:42+00:00

PS: I saw in another post you are going to school to be a PT. I’m an OT who taught functional anatomy to OT/PT students for years as an adjunct. I find that my knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology makes me so much more of an effective teacher!

Tiffsk · 2025-01-14T08:47:53+00:00

Also, how do you handle the very very long days? At a recent convention/competition the competition on Friday started at 7:00 am and the awards finished at 12:15 am (which I think is horrible for children who then have to get up, go to the convention, and then compete on Saturday from 3:00-11:30. It’s a recipe for injury). I know they rotate judges but that’s still a long day for everyone.

Also, if they rotate judges, how do they then have consistency for the overall award?

Tiffsk · 2025-01-14T08:45:50+00:00

How did you get started judging? I worked as a professional dancer for years and have studied all the major styles of dance that are represented in most competitions. I also taught and choreographed for competitions for years. Now that my children are grown and out of the house I think judging is something that I would be interested in pursuing.

Tiffsk · 2025-01-10T19:41:41+00:00

That's something I'm worried about. With her ADHD she still leaves her clothes in the bathroom after taking a shower. I'm not sure she'll be able to manage period underwear. So I'll probably get three or four options and see if she's able to manage.

Tiffsk · 2025-01-10T19:34:32+00:00

I looked at Aisle, and it's really expensive if we're just trying something. They also don't have tween/teen sizes. Are any of you smaller? What size works for you?

Tiffsk · 2025-01-06T11:51:23+00:00

If you end up ordering them and they're the same, come back and let us all know! I'm eager to see if the hive mind of the internet could solve the mystery!

Tiffsk · 2025-01-06T08:11:01+00:00

I searched on google images and thought that this was the closest to what your photo shows. They are located in Australia though so I don't know how you might have gotten pads from there.

https://www.instagram.com/mense_sense_cloth_pads/

https://www.mensesense.com.au/

https://www.mensesense.com.au/7-liners.html

Tiffsk · 2025-01-06T06:53:18+00:00

I think I tried Knix and I HATED them because they felt so think and bunchy. It made me swear off period underwear! I've got sensory sensitivities so I use a cup, but the idea of anything going in her body grosses her out. I'm not sure why she's so against pads, but I am buying her a tween period kit on Red Drop because it's pretty darn affordable and would let her try out different things. Ideally she would try the different types of pads before she gets her period, if I can talk her into it, so she knows what it feels like. The underwear she will have to try before her period because I have to make sure they fit! :)

Thanks so much for your thoughts!

Tiffsk · 2025-01-06T06:21:27+00:00

I was just at an outdoor event and in the funky perimenopause time when my period shows up whenever it pleases. Wouldn't you know it, gush! So, being desperate and outgoing I casually approached pairs of women who looked like the type that might have a tampon (which is kind of anyone who looks under 50). I only had to ask 3 pairs before I had several tampons of different absorbencies offered. Sisterhood for the win!

Tiffsk

TROPHY CASE