Empower Autism Blogs
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Autism-Affirming Artistry: Building Community Through the DJ Scene
Author Riley Sellick | Published 29th June 2026
Did you know DJing can be Autism-affirming?
I often think about DJ sets as taking place exclusively in dark clubs, busy rave scenes and spaces that I most often associate with sensory overload. Something that I apparently assumed must not be a very Autism-affirming space for most people.
Well, turns out that assumption may have been more unfair than I realised.
Firstly, to state a clear bias in my assumption; not all Autistic people dislike the sensory stimulation of a bustling night club. While sensory sensitivity is a core element of the Autistic experience, it can encompass both hyper and hypo sensitivity to a variety of sources, like sound, light, touch and smell. Sensory needs look different for everyone.
Because of this, many Autistic people actually seek out the thumping music and raw energy of nightclubs, finding these space exciting and engaging.
Secondly, even if nightclubs aren’t your sensory cup of tea, DJing may still turn out to be quite accessible to you! DJs don’t just play in late night clubs, but also at well-lit lunch spots, cozy botanical bars and afternoon outdoor venues; playing music from all kinds of genres, to all kinds of crowds.
I spoke to RaccEatSnacc (Matthew) about his experience as an Autistic DJ.
I learned much of this last Friday, when I had the opportunity to speak to local DJ and Autistic man, Matthew Norton, about his journey through the DJ scene.
Matthew, who goes by the artist name RaccEatSnacc, shared how he was inspired to try out DJing, after attending a set with his support worker, Kel, and thinking it looked fun.
Through DJ training, attending events, and playing several sets of his own, Matthew shared how he was able to grow his confidence on stage, feed his passion for music, and express his own unique perspective as an artist. Above all else, he explained that it was the connections he made through DJing that kept him coming back. DJing exposed Matthew to an enthusiastic and inclusive community, and led him to meet some truly incredible people that he would not have met otherwise.
RaccEatSnacc (Matthew) shares his biggest gig thus far on Instagram, playing at The Fourth Beat. credit: @RaccEatSnacc
One of the people Matthew met along the way was Michael (artist name Vogel (AU)), a teacher at Front Left DJ Academy, and DJ of 14 years himself. Matthew began lessons with Michael through Front Left DJ Academy’s NDIS DJ Support program, which offers a flexible and inclusive approach to DJ training for a variety of NDIS funded students.
During lessons, Matthew and Michael bonded over their shared music tastes and DJ styles, leading Michael to invite Matthew to DJ as part of his charity set, Night Service, on July 10th-11th.
Night Service is an annual 24-hour DJ set, which brings together the SE QLD electronic music scene to raise funds for three charity partners. This year, Night Service’s charity partners are the Dylan Alcott Foundation, the Lukemia Foundation and Empower Autism (that’s us!). We’re super honoured to be included in this unique event, and even more excited knowing that the inclusion of our Autistic community isn’t just for show. Night Service, and the DJ community it is supported by, seem truly committed to creating an Autism-affirming, inclusive experience for everyone involved.
In a recent tour of the venue for this year’s event, Michael shared how alongside the main stage, Night Service will also include a secondary outdoor stage and street eats, for those seeking a more sensory friendly experience or break from the action, as well as a 24-hour live stream for anyone wishing to tune in from home.
Vogel AU (Michael) walks through the venue setup for Night Service on Instagram, located at Pawn & Co. Brisbane. credit: @nightservice_
I’m personally very grateful to have had the opportunity to learn about the DJ community, and very excited to experience it myself at Night Service. Matthew will be playing his house and nu-disco set on July 11th, from 11:45am-12:30pm. Come check out his set, have a fun day out, and support this amazing event!
About the Author
Riley Sellick is a multi-disciplinary designer, storyteller and Autistic person, working to explore community, connection and how we interact with one another, through various interactive and visual mediums.
Through his work with Empower Autism, Riley approaches contemporary discussions of Autistic identity, disability and social change, with an authenticly human focus. This work aims to highlight the commonalities between our individual experiences and fosters empathy, understanding and connection across our communities.