UNDERSTANDING AUTISM

The world around us is full of colours, shapes, and sounds. For some people, this sensory input can be overwhelming, distressing and even blocking, especially for those with neurodiverse conditions such as autism.

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a condition with varying levels of support needs among autistic individuals. The graphic below represents a number of areas that can be affected by ASD. The degree to which a person is affected is individualized across all of these different areas. It is a unique mix of abilities and needs for each person. There are almost as many kinds of autism as there are autistic people. According to the CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, US), around 1% of the world's population has autism spectrum disorder – over 75,000,000 people.

Autism isn’t linear

The autism spectrum is not linear and often referred to as a "spikey profile." This means that an autistic person may excel in a particular area, such as nuclear physics, but struggle with basic tasks like brushing their teeth or doing laundry. Some individuals with autism require high levels of support, including full-time care and assistance. For those individuals, it’s important that the spaces in which they live, play and learn are tailored to their needs.

The influence of floor covering

The influence of flooring on people with autism is substantial. It’s directly linked to all the senses, such as hearing, vision, sense of smell, taste, touch, and the sense of self-movement, force, and body position. Finding the right balance in colour and pattern, LRV, lighting and acoustics plays a crucial part in this.