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Apr 11 • 19 tweets • 5 min read
Today's thread:

How to create a space for Autistic Adults.

How to design and decorate your home that feels welcoming to an autistic person?

#AutismAcceptanceMonth
#AutismAwarenessMonth
#ActuallyAutistic
Background:

i) About a year ago, I started looking for interior designers who have experience in designing homes for autistic adults - someone who designed one home. I was not looking for an expert.

Spoiler alert (Not!) - I did not find any.
ii) So I did the usual - Research.

Most search hits were about children.

I have no idea what they think happens to autistic children when they grow up?
iii) Anyway, I found a few papers and articles that were semi-related which I then shared with my designer as "reading materials" to understand the need of autistic adults w.r.t. interior design.
iv) Needless to mention, different autistic person has different ideas of what "home" feels like.

So, we triangulated that with my personality.

Here are the readings I shared with the designer.
1) Autism design techniques – A cheat sheet. autismhousingpathways.org/wp-content/upl….

2) It is a summary of: Autism and the built environment – using design to improve outcomes by Catherine Boyle.
autismhousingpathways.org/wp-content/upl…
3) Designing for Autism Spectrum Disorder (🙄 re the title) by Angela Bourne, Michelle Pearson, Mesha Kleibrink, Kristi Gaines.

routledge.com/rsc/downloads/…
4) Sensory Checklist by @AsIAmIreland

asiam.ie/wp-content/upl…
5) How mood lighting, black walls and sensory rooms can help people on the Autism spectrum feel at ease.

independent.ie/life/home-gard…
6) Housing Adaptation For Adults With Autistic Spectrum Disorder by Magda Mustafa.

researchgate.net/publication/28…
7) Living in the Community Housing Design for Adults with Autism by Andrew Brand.

researchgate.net/publication/22…
8) Advancing Full Sprectrum Housing

d3dqsm2futmewz.cloudfront.net/docs/stardust/…
9) Making Homes that Work A Resource Guide for Families Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder + Co-occurring Behaviors by George Braddock and John Rowell.

communitylivingbc.ca/wp-content/upl…
10) Design and Autism Good practice in commissioning and designing built environments

thespaces.org.uk/wp-content/upl…
Most days, I am okay with doing this work because I do not think there is any other way.

But sometimes, I get tired.
I wish professional courses included neurodiversity in their curricullum so we didn't have to educate every single professionals we engage with.

Or at least give us "Education discount"
I'm putting the list of readings out here because this account has a far greater reach than my personal account hoping:
a) it will help one person
b) one uni will take note & create a course that includes neurodivergent folks (lol)

We all deserve a safe and comfortable space.
#unroll
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More from @WeAreDisabled

@WeAreDisabled Profile picture
Apr 11
Last thread: Neurotypical's Guide to Friendship with an autistic person.

Don't worry, the bar is very low here.

#ActuallyAutistic
#AutismAcceptanceMonth
#AutismAwarenessMonth
#Friendship
1) Don't mock them.
2) Let them stim.

Don't try to hold them back or make fun of them. Read Rule 1.
Read 22 tweets
@WeAreDisabled Profile picture
Apr 11
Hello folks!

This is @pinguicverse here.

I am going to start to slowly wrap up.

I am weaving all the threads we created this week.

#WeAreDisabled
#DisabledAndCute
#AutismAwarenessMonth
#AutismAcceptanceMonth
#ActuallyAutistic
Before I do that, I want to thank you all for your participation and engagement.

I have learned a lot from all of you.
Thank you admin for trusting me with the space and community you created with so much hardwork.



#AutismAwarenessMonth
#AutismAcceptanceMonth
#ActuallyAutistic
Read 23 tweets
@WeAreDisabled Profile picture
Apr 8
Yesterday I asked you what your neuroatypical superpowers were.

Let me do a small-ish thread on my superpowers.

Some of them are very similar to what you shared.

A thread.

#AutismAcceptanceMonth
#AutismAwarenessMonth
#ActuallyAutistic
1) I love big data and I cannot lie.

I am not a statistician. It is not heavy duty maths.
But often, for work (and sometimes for fun too), I have to look at patterns.
I tabulate judgments and analyse them.

Even though the content is very #TW-ish, I love doing this so much.
2) My "special interest" changes every few months.
But when I'm in that zone,I am obsessed about it.

Suddenly, one day, I cannot look at it anymore. Until few months later, when I am again interested in it.

I call it "Jhum irrigation" of brain

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shifting_…
Read 8 tweets
@WeAreDisabled Profile picture
Apr 7
Second Thread: While I have asked you what your neuroatypical superpowers are, I will make a list of ways Autism comes in my way on a daily basis.

Here's a thread of things others seem to do so easily, but I struggle.
1) SOCIALISING

Navigating unwritten social rules is one of my biggest challenge.

I often say- I feel like a different operating system altogether.

Sarcasm, innuendos, implicit expectations are my nemesis.
2.1) CHANGES

I hate the phrase - Change is the only constant thing.

No, constant is the only constant thing.

You would think I hate big changes.

No.

If I am made to sit on another chair in the dining table, I will very visibly go into distress.
Read 22 tweets
@WeAreDisabled Profile picture
Apr 6
Q1. It can be a two step process.

a) read what #ActuallyAutistic folks have said on it to get a rough idea of what support looks like in general.

b) when it comes to supporting a person, ask them what they need. It will differ from person to person, and day to day.
For eg:Depending on what my life looked like in the past week or month, my need may vary.

If I have had a very busy few days of socialising & work, I may need silence, space to recover and stim.

If I have had a few days of rest, I may have higher tolerance to change and sound.
I think @aheeleyRIBA summarised it very well below :)

Read 5 tweets
@WeAreDisabled Profile picture
Apr 6
First Thread: I wanted to talk about Autism.

Common myths and misunderstandings.

A Thread.

(Please excuse spellings and syntax error)
1) Autism is not a disease.

Therefore, there are no "causes".

You will hear all sorts of things people think cause autism: medicines, vaccines, milk, gluten.

This is all incorrect.
2) There is no cure.
Several universities have been criticised recently for trying "to find a cure".

Stop looking for cure.

Invest that money on making places accessible.
As an ally, the biggest thing you can do for an autistic person is: Support them and be there for them.
Read 26 tweets

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