Sense & Support

Building Meaningful Sensory Kits

Stock photo of noise canceling headphones on a polished wooden table

Event Description: In this professional development session, learn the basics of creating thoughtful, effective sensory kits that serve all five senses. Hear from experienced professionals on what makes a successful sensory tool, and dig deeper into how organizations can create and distribute these supports for their communities. Grab your favorite fidget and join us for this virtual session!

This event has ended. The recording and resources can be found below.

Archived Event Videos

Sense & Support Recording

Archived Event Files

01.08.26 S&S Slideshow
01.08.26 S&S Resources

Archived Event Speakers

Erin Harvey

Erin stands in shadowy lighting infront of a blood-red backdrop that matches the frames of her glasses. She looks up and off camera with an expression of excited anticipation as she pumps her fists. Her dark hair moves as if she is jumping for joy. She wears a black leather jacket with silver bones emblazoned on it.

Erin Harvey (she/her) is a self described world traveler and ballet dancer. Some of her favorite performances include dancing with Western Spring Ballet Training in addition to playing Circe in The Odyssey and Elizabeth/Partner in Frankenstein for A.B.L.E. Ensemble. Erin joined A.B.L.E. in 2023, and, in addition to performing, she is also a member of the Program Advisory Council where she shares her expertise to shape programmatic strategy and advocate for others. When not at ABLE, Erin enjoys being a dog owner and working at St. John of the Cross. Something she wishes people knew about her is that appearance isn’t everything!

Katie Yohe

Katie, a white woman with a non-apparent disability smiles for the camera infront of an off-white backdrop in dramatic lighting. Her brown, shoulder-length hair hangs in loose curls. She wears a royal blue sleeveless top with a notched collar that reveals a necklace with a small silver key.

Katie Yohe (she/her) is a multi-faceted performer, director, producer, and educator with credits ranging from musicals to Shakespeare both in the U.S. and abroad. Katie holds a BFA in Drama from Syracuse University and a Masters with Distinction in Applied Theatre from The Royal Central School for Speech and Drama in London. As the Founder and Executive Artistic Director of A.B.L.E. – Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations – Katie specializes in collaborating with performers with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). She enjoys working collaboratively with performers to devise their own stories, or to find themselves in classic pieces, through a multitude of performance styles ranging from music to movement to puppetry. With A.B.L.E., she has produced and directed over 30 productions including stage plays, feature films, and digital projects all featuring neurodiverse ensembles. Katie has adapted 8 stories from the classical canon, including the critically acclaimed Frankenstein produced in partnership with Chicago Shakespeare Theater. In 2023, she was part of a delegation of artists who toured to Poland with the Center for International Theater Development. Katie has developed and led accessibility training for Northlight Theatre, UIC, Paramount Theater, and The Lyric Opera, among others. As a leader with a chronic illness, Katie centers accessibility throughout the creative process, and approaches her work with the ethos that the arts belong to everyone.

Melanie Zehner

Melanie (She/Her) is presented in this headshot as a white female in her early 30’s from the waist up. She has brown eyes, long dark hair styled in loose curls falling to her mid chest and is wearing a short sleeve purple shirt against a grey background. She is standing with her hands on her lower back, smiling confidently at the camera.

Melanie Zehner (she/her) works as the the Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator at the Lincoln Park Zoo. She also is an actor, writer, director, theatre educator, cultural institution practitioner, disability consultant and 500hr Registered Yoga Teacher. Melanie is a proud member of actor unions’ AEA and SAG-AFTRA. She has directed and written theatrical works for multiple performing arts companies, and interactive museum exhibits. As an accessibility consultant, she has provided inclusive guidance for film productions, museums, theatre companies and performing arts schools. Melanie holds a BA in Theatre from SUNY Potsdam and a MA in Physical Acting from the University of Kent Canterbury. She is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory and a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC). Melanie joined the Steering Committee in 2025.

Abby Busser-Accettura

I am a white, cisgender woman in my 30s with brown eyes, shoulder-length, straight brown hair, and purple glasses. In this picture I am sitting on a grassy sand dune with Lake Michigan in the background. I am wearing an orange button-down shirt and khaki hiking pants.

Abby Busser-Accettura (she/her) is a long time resident of the Chicagoland area, Abby holds a Bachelors Degree in English and the Humanities from Valparaiso University, where she attended the Christ College honors program, and a Masters of Fine Art in Screenwriting from DePaul. Abby’s career experience lies in both formal and informal education at institutions across Chicago, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Chicago and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. She currently serves as the Senior Learning Specialist for Teen Programs at the John G. Shedd Aquarium, where she sits on the Learning Department’s Accessibility working circle. In her free time, Abby also occasionally works as a photographer specializing in portraiture and event photography, and sings with the Windy City Performing Arts Treble Quire. Abby joined the Steering Committee in 2025.