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Innovative autism sensory experience launched

A new immersive sensory experience, which can help people to understand more about some of the sensory difficulties faced by autistic people, has been launched in the UK.

The Autism Reality Experience can particularly help those working with individuals on the autistic spectrum to understand more about acute sensitivities to light, sound and other things in the everyday environment that can overload those in their care.

The Autism Reality Experience, invented by Experience Training Ltd’s Managing Director Glenn Knight and trainer Chelsey Cookson, is available UK-wide via a mobile simulator unit.

The experience requires the user to attempt a series of tasks while being subjected to a range of effects designed to overload their vision, hearing and thought processes.

Experience Training Ltd will be offering structured training sessions on the Autism Reality Experience to organisations across the UK that employ staff who work directly or indirectly with autistic people.

This includes care and nursing homes, day centres, funeral directors, hospitals, hospices, local authorities, prisons, universities and the retail sector. The company’s national network of trainers will also be making the Autism Reality Experience available to carers and family members of autistic people across the UK.

Glenn said: “Training2Care (UK) Ltd and Experience Training Ltd want to improve the lives of autistic people and have chosen the National Autistic Society as our charity beneficiary. We will be donating 10% of all revenue from the Autism Reality Experience to them.”

Alastair Graham, Director of Fundraising and Commercial Development at the National Autistic Society, said: “Interactive, simulated experiences can really help to increase understanding of autism and empathy with autistic people, who can struggle to cope in the day-to-day environment that others take for granted.

“More than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum in the UK. This means that someone sees, hears and feels the world in a different, often more intense, way than others do. Autistic people often find public places challenging. They are unable to filter out the sounds, smells and sights around them, which means they can feel bombarded and overwhelmed by ‘too much information’.

“Understanding these challenges is key to making a world where autistic people can live the lives they choose.

“We’re very pleased that Training2Care has chosen to donate to the National Autistic Society in its work to support autistic people and their families through its helpline, website and other services.”

Glenn added: “I hope lots of organisations will use the Autism Reality Experience as part of their autism training for staff. I also hope family members and carers will complete the course because it may give them additional insights into their loved ones’ worlds.”