New autism sensory experience set to visit Milton Keynes

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 experience, invented by Experience Training Ltd’s managing director Glenn Knight and Chelsey Cookson is available UK-wide via a mobile simulator unit.

The experience requires the user to attempt a series of tasks whilst 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 who employ staff that work directly or indirectly with autistic people.

This includes care and nursing homes, day centres, 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.

The sensory mobile unit is visiting Milton Keynes Council near you on March 31.

Glenn Knight said: ”We want to improve the lives of autistic people and have chosen the National Autistic Society as our charity beneficiary.

“We will be donating ten per cent 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 the key to making a world where autistic people can live the lives that they choose.”

Glenn added: “I hope that lots of organisations will use the Autism Reality Experience as part of their autism training for staff.

“I also hope that family members and carers will also complete the course because it may give them additional insights into their loved ones’ worlds.”