To Whom It May Concern: 

 

     My name is Jenna Lourenco, MFA, and I am a Lecturer at Emmanuel College in Boston. I have designed a research project to pursue ongoing questions about the accessibility of employment for autistic theatremakers of every discipline. The name of my study is: “‘Work with Me, Here:’ Examining Environmental and Cultural Challenges to Autistic Accessibility in Theatre Workspaces.”

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     As an autistic theatremaker, myself, I hope that you are willing to participate in my research by allowing me to interview you for this study. Both diagnosis and self-identification will be accepted for this study, as diagnosis is inaccessible to many for many reasons. To be eligible, participants must:​

• identify as autistic (see above)

• be at least 18 years old and have legal autonomy

• be working in professional theatre or pursuing work in professional theatre (or have previously worked professionally in theatre)

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     The interview will likely take about 45 - 60 minutes, and will be recorded via Zoom so that it can be transcribed later. To improve accessibility, if anyone wishing to participate identifies as non-speaking or prefers non-spoken communication for better fluency or processing, I can arrange for you to submit answers to the survey questions via WhatsApp with end-to-end encryption settings, instead of a Zoom meeting. A hybrid version of these options may also be used, based on the participant’s needs. Requests for accommodations can be made directly to me.

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     There is an interview guide with the anticipated interview questions, which can be sent to you in advance upon request if that would improve your accessibility. Additional follow up questions may be asked, based on your answers during the interview. 

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     All transcripts, recordings, and other data collected will be stored offline to protect the anonymity of the participants. All recordings and text conversations will be deleted once the transcript has been confirmed as accurate. WhatsApp allows the originator of the conversation to delete the chat on every active device, and end-to-end encryption ensures that the chat is strongly protected within the limitations of WhatsApp’s significant security protocols. 

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     Though I offer this interview in a single session, accommodations allow for a second or even a third interview session to adapt to differing processing needs and attention spans. If you need to stop for any reason during an interview session, we can take a short break or schedule a later time to continue. 

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     All possible efforts will be made to ensure the identity of each participant is protected, including assigning pseudonyms and removing identifying data from all transcripts. Confidentiality will be maintained to the degree permitted by the technology used. Specifically, no guarantees can be made regarding the interception of data sent via the Internet by a third party. 

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     If you choose not to participate at any time, I will understand and respect your choice. You can also agree and then change your mind. If you choose to withdraw from the study, no questions will be asked and I will delete any mention of you in my notes and transcripts. 

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     If you are willing to participate, email me at the address below. I will send you a consent form via DocuSign that I will need to receive from you before we meet. 

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     All interviews must be held between July 1, 2023 and June 28, 2024 for the purposes of this study and its parameters. 

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Sincerely,

Jenna Lourenco, MFA

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To participate, or for more information, please contact me at lourencoj@emmanuel.edu. Please use the subject header “Work with Me, Here.”

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