Dr Keren Maclennan, Dr Cathy Manning and Emily from 21 and Sensory are developing online training materials for businesses so they can make public spaces more sensory-inclusive for autistic people.
Why it matters
About 9 in 10 autistic people experience sensory differences¹. Many public spaces are not well designed for the sensory needs of autistic people. Lighting choices and lack of sound absorption, among other things, can leave some autistic people feeling overwhelmed and in some cases, lead to meltdowns or shutdowns.
Many public spaces are disabling due to sensory-related factors. This means some autistic people are unable to access vital public services, which can negatively impact their quality of life.
About the research
Keren, Cathy and Emily collaborated with autistic people to create free online training materials for businesses, called NeuInsight. These training materials will help businesses improve their understanding of autistic sensory processing differences.
The training will also provide them with practical guidance on how to make their public spaces more sensory-inclusive. These training materials are evidence-based and informed by the lived experience of autistic people. Access it here for free.
The training materials were developed through four online workshops. They also worked with businesses to inform the development and support the piloting of the training.
How it's making more of a difference
This project will educate business owners, inspiring them to make changes so that their spaces are sensory-inclusive for autistic people.
This means spaces will be designed with autistic people in mind, instead of someone needing to make their own accommodations or avoiding a space entirely.
This will ultimately lead to fewer barriers to essential services and leisure spaces for autistic people.
How we are involved
We’re proud to partner on this project, which aligns with our 2030 Goal of making public spaces more accessible for autistic people.
As a partner on the project, our role included:
- Recruiting workshop collaborators from the Autistica Network.
- Amplifying the findings through our networks.
- Reviewing the materials and providing feedback.