How organisations can make positive changes?
Autism and learning disabilities are very different, and every individual will have their own needs and requirements. So, it is always better to speak to people with lived experience to get a better understanding of how to help them. However, through the delivery of the Celebrating Differences campaign, we have noticed a few common things that organisations who had made a positive difference were doing. We hope if you did them, you would make a positive difference too. They are:
- Find out more and do some awareness training so you have a better understanding.
- Be patient and allow extra time for processing information.
- Create ‘quiet’ times where there are fewer sensory stimuli such as dimming lights, turning off music, turning down volumes.
- Communicating clearly when the least busy times are so people can avoid crowds.
- Provide less stimulating environments by offering seats at the end, or corner of the room.
- Recognise routine, and if possible, allow people to sit in the same place.
- Communicate any changes in scheduling or layouts clearly before the changes happen - so people have time to adjust and plan.
- If you can share a layout map and photos on your website, this can lower anxiety before visiting.
- Create ‘champions’ or ‘advocates’ to drive change, raise awareness, and support inclusivity.
- Be kind, and don’t make preconceptions based on behaviours.
- Speak to people with Autism or a learning disability and ask them about their individual experience.
You can view our campaign video celebrating the positive changes organisations across Staffordshire have made below:
For more information about being more inclusive please see: