AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me. Edited to remove the word "Sufferers")
Want to know what it feels like to have autism? Now you can: Mobile tour which gives people a first-hand experience of the condition is launched in the UK
A hands-on reality tour which gives people a first-hand experience of what it feels like to have autism has been launched in the UK.
The unique simulator asks users to carry out simple tasks while being completely overwhelmed by light and sound.
Participants wear special headphones, glasses and gloves which make it impossible to concentrate as they struggle to filter out the senses around them.
Experts say this helps to create a similar environment to that of individuals with the condition.
The unique simulator asks users to carry out simple tasks while being completely overwhelmed by light and sound (Chelsey Cookson, from Training 2 Care, the agency running the experience, pictured putting the glasses on a user)
It is hoped the 'Autism Reality Experience', which will tour up and down the country, will be used by schools, retailers and prisons.
This will allow them to get a better perspective of the symptoms that tend to go unnoticed to the untrained eye.
Chelsey Cookson, from Training 2 Care, the agency running the experience, said: 'Lots of people have family members with autism, including myself, and this could help a lot of them.
'We used to be based next to an autism specific care facility, after seeing the success of our previous dementia-focused tour we ran they said it was a shame there wasn't something similar for autism.'
Numerous care agencies will be getting involved to develop their teams' skills by using the simulator which will be rolled out nationwide.
More than one in every 100 people are classed as being on the autism spectrum in the UK and many find public spaces challenging.
Symptoms of the mental condition can be present from early childhood, and can cause individuals to struggle with communicating and forming relationships.
Often those affected are unable to filter out the sounds, smells and sights around them, which can make them feel bombarded by too much information.
Boys are known to be at a higher risk of being on the spectrum, according to the NHS.
There is no known cure for the condition, but speech and language therapy is a key intervention to helping children battle through it.
As well as developing awareness surrounding the condition ten per cent of the income from the project will also be donated to the National Autistic Society.
Alastair Graham, from 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.
'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.'
This comes after scientists this week found that faecal transplants could help to treat behavioural symptoms in autism patients.
University of Arizona researchers found many children with autism lack a bacterial diversity in their gut - but undergoing a transplant helps to rebalance it.
And earlier this year a leading psychologist claimed that children who think they are transgender could be autistic.
Youngsters who believe they were born in the wrong body are seven times more likely than others to be on the autistic spectrum, said Dr Kenneth Zucker.
Source: Autism test let's people experience the symptoms | Daily Mail Online
Want to know what it feels like to have autism? Now you can: Mobile tour which gives people a first-hand experience of the condition is launched in the UK
- Special headphones, glasses and gloves are given to participants to wear
- Flashes of light and background noise causes their sense to be overwhelmed
- Experts say this helps to create a similar environment to that of individuals
A hands-on reality tour which gives people a first-hand experience of what it feels like to have autism has been launched in the UK.
The unique simulator asks users to carry out simple tasks while being completely overwhelmed by light and sound.
Participants wear special headphones, glasses and gloves which make it impossible to concentrate as they struggle to filter out the senses around them.
Experts say this helps to create a similar environment to that of individuals with the condition.
The unique simulator asks users to carry out simple tasks while being completely overwhelmed by light and sound (Chelsey Cookson, from Training 2 Care, the agency running the experience, pictured putting the glasses on a user)
It is hoped the 'Autism Reality Experience', which will tour up and down the country, will be used by schools, retailers and prisons.
This will allow them to get a better perspective of the symptoms that tend to go unnoticed to the untrained eye.
Chelsey Cookson, from Training 2 Care, the agency running the experience, said: 'Lots of people have family members with autism, including myself, and this could help a lot of them.
'We used to be based next to an autism specific care facility, after seeing the success of our previous dementia-focused tour we ran they said it was a shame there wasn't something similar for autism.'
Numerous care agencies will be getting involved to develop their teams' skills by using the simulator which will be rolled out nationwide.
More than one in every 100 people are classed as being on the autism spectrum in the UK and many find public spaces challenging.
Symptoms of the mental condition can be present from early childhood, and can cause individuals to struggle with communicating and forming relationships.
Often those affected are unable to filter out the sounds, smells and sights around them, which can make them feel bombarded by too much information.
Boys are known to be at a higher risk of being on the spectrum, according to the NHS.
There is no known cure for the condition, but speech and language therapy is a key intervention to helping children battle through it.
As well as developing awareness surrounding the condition ten per cent of the income from the project will also be donated to the National Autistic Society.
Alastair Graham, from 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.
'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.'
This comes after scientists this week found that faecal transplants could help to treat behavioural symptoms in autism patients.
University of Arizona researchers found many children with autism lack a bacterial diversity in their gut - but undergoing a transplant helps to rebalance it.
And earlier this year a leading psychologist claimed that children who think they are transgender could be autistic.
Youngsters who believe they were born in the wrong body are seven times more likely than others to be on the autistic spectrum, said Dr Kenneth Zucker.
Source: Autism test let's people experience the symptoms | Daily Mail Online
