OUGD603 - Hidden Figures - Research - Environment and Surroundings

https://www.autism.org.uk/about/family-life/in-the-home/environment.aspx

Autism and sensory differences

Many autistic people have sensory issues. This can affect one or more of the senses and they can be either over-developed (hypersensitive) or under-developed (hyposensitive). Both can have an impact on how people experience different environments. 

For example, autistic people may find certain background sounds, which other people ignore or block out, unbearably loud or distracting. This can cause anxiety or even physical pain. 

People who are hyposensitive, meanwhile, may not feel pain or extremes of temperature.

Creating an autism friendly and safe space

You can create a non-distracting and functional area by thinking about the physical structure of a particular room or environment. Furniture, soft furnishings and flooring can all be used to create a calm space. 

Labelling items can also be helpful. For example, a kitchen will usually have fitted cupboards and fixtures as standard, helping to identify it, but all areas of the kitchen could also be labelled with words and/or symbols to help someone to use the room and the equipment with minimal support. Cupboards which contain food or hazardous materials could be locked when not in use.

Colour and patterns

It is generally accepted that low arousal colours such as cream (not yellow or white) should be used for walls and patterned wallpaper should be avoided. Soft furnishings should also be kept fairly plain. Single-colour, painted walls can also eliminate the possibility of wallpaper being removed.

Patterned floors can be confusing to walk across and may increase anxiety or cause people to become fixated.

Lighting

Fluorescent or harsh lighting can hurt the eyes of an autistic person.  Many say that they can see these types of lights flickering or hear them hum, this can be distracting.  Due to these difficulties, it is best to use soft lighting where possible. Adjustable lighting in some rooms can be calming.

Curtains and blinds

It has been suggested that it’s best to avoid using slatted blinds, particularly vertical ones, as these can be distracting. Curtains may be a better option, with blackout curtains helping someone who is particularly sensitive to light. If someone has a tendency to pull on curtain rails, curtains can be held up with Velcro.
 
Plastic stick-on covering can also be placed on windows, giving privacy while letting some light in.

Noise

Some autistic people can’t filter out noises that other people simply block out or ignore.

Furnishing can help to reduce noise levels in your home. For example, carpet or soft flooring is quieter than laminated flooring which can be noisy. This type of furnishing can also create a feeling of cosiness and safety.

Smells

People on the autism spectrum can become overwhelmed by subtle smells that you may not  notice, such as someone's deodorant or perfume, or the smells of fabrics. Clements and Zarkowska (2000)suggest using a background fragrance to block the intrusion of uncontrollable smells.