Many colleges and several high schools around the world have proposed or implemented the use of jazz hands instead of applause. The reason many give for this change is that applause may cause anxiety in some people, especially people on the autism spectrum who suffer from stress due to loud noises.
In most events where applause takes place you know there is going to be applause – a concert, a graduation, a sporting event. Concerts and sporting events have loud noise throughout the event. Jazz hands in these instances really doesn’t cut down on the noise all that much and if you have someone that doesn’t follow the rules just a few excited spectators can cause even more anxiety due to the suddenness of the noise amidst the quiet. It can be very startling or jarring, which frequently causes just as much, if not more, anxiety.
However, most people on the spectrum aren’t just affected by loud noises. It’s a sudden unexpected loud noise which is the issue. Applause usually doesn’t fall into this category since it is to be expected. And if the person on the spectrum is new to that type of event, an explanation about what is going to happen should be told between them and their caretaker, whether that is a friend, parent, teacher, or other person. Many times we’ve seen people on the spectrum gladly joining in with the crowd, enthusiastically clapping as loud or louder than those around them.
My oldest son is on the autism spectrum and he has difficulty dealing with loud noises, so when we go to a place where we know there will be loud noises, we bring ear plugs or headphones for him to use. He has them and knows when things get too loud to put them on. He used to start with them on before the event even started, however, over the years this has helped him build up a tolerance and now he can usually get through the event without any issues or stress, and without needing to wear the headphones.
With our middle son, we used a swimmers ear plugs. While he is on the spectrum, it is not as obvious as with our older son, and he likes to “blend in”. Using a clear ear plug allowed him to enjoy the events without standing out from the crowd or looking different. Very important to any teenager.
While the idea behind using Jazz Hands is nice, it doesn’t account for the fact the people on the spectrum can easily be overwhelmed by more than use sound. Several hundred people doing jazz hands at the same time can actually be worse for many people who are on the autism spectrum or experience anxiety from being in crowded places. This much motion can cause sensory overload.
Many different types of people experience sensory overload including people with: autism, ADHD, PTSD, and MS. Because of the movement, this can negatively affect others as well, and often people will occasionally touch one another. This can be another unwanted stimulus, especially for introverts are also severely affected in many cases.
Sensory overload, no matter the sources, can lead to shutting down, a panic attack, trigger the “flight or fight” response, or to cause what appears to be a “tantrum.”
Noise is a factor that can be adjusted to accommodate the individual through the use of head phones, ear plugs, or even where one sites. However, the visual sensory overload is not as easily controlled. In an effort to accommodate some individuals, it is creating a far greater problem for others. Also it is prohibiting someone who is visually impaired from being able to experience the excitement of the event.
I fully support and encourage being inclusive to everyone, however many people give a knee jerk response and go from one extreme to another without considering its implications and finding out if there could be a better solution.
The example that many people point to for banning clapping in favor of jazz hands was the case of Jack Higgins, an autistic senior graduating from high school. The principal requested that everyone silently golf clap and raise jazz hands as Jack crossed the stage as too much noise causes him anxiety and he wanted Jack and his family to enjoy the event as well. This was a great idea and accommodated the young man’s needs. But, and this is the point that everyone misses, they only did it for Jack. The rest of the ceremony was as normal.
Other schools can do this as well, all they need to do is ask if a graduate needs/would like this special accommodation and follow the example above. Events can provide quiet seating areas for people who would benefit from these sections. This would give them a “safe area” where they can enjoy the event without modifying the experience, but it so all can experience the event.
This jazz hands policy would have ruined the day for an autistic child who graduated from middle school with one of my sons. He is autistic, but LOVES applause. Applause for him signifies a job well done and approval. He craves these things. He even went as far as to raise his hands in the area and do the “raise the roof” motion requesting more applause. He worked hard to do well in his classes and wanted the applause, but to take it away would be an extreme disservice to this child.
I love that schools and event coordinators are attempting to accommodate and include as many people as they can. This is what any civilized society truly needs. However, we cannot make assumptions for the whole of the world based upon how we think it should be. We need to check with those individuals who we are trying to include and determine what is best.
Accommodating individuals who are active participants in the events is an obvious need. For those spectators, a quiet seating area, is great ways to help those who need the extra assistance without taking away from others. We’ve seen this as a separate room with closed circuit TV, to a section off to the side, where the walls were carpeted to absorb extra sounds. These accommodations would benefit people like my son who struggles with loud noises, not create an issue for another son who struggles with sensory overload from too much stimuli that would be created from the excessive motion of everyone doing jazz hands, and still allow people like myself who love the excitement from the applause to all be able to experience the event to the fullest.
