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Why designs to accommodate people with autism are better for everyone
According to a 2016 CDC study, there are staggering 1 in 54 children in the US has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). While significant efforts have been made in the area of visual, hearing, and mobility disabilities, much less attention is paid to designs to accommodate for ASD.
Before addressing designs for people with ASD, first, we must know a few things about ASD. ASD is not a disability, many famous personalities who many consider being in the spectrum had great success in life such as
Albert Einstein
Bill Gates
Comedian Dan Aykroyd
Britain’s Got Talent singing sensation Susan Boyle
Actress Daryl Hannah
Oscar award-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins
and the list goes on
People with autism are not ill or broken; they do not need any treatment. They are just different and perceive the world slightly differently, so they need others to understand them. They may get hypersensitive to everything in their world: light, sound, color, textures, shapes, movement, emotions, and the emotions of those around them. Everything hits them like a scary storm, and it can take a moment to process and adjust. Some may be less sensitive, and others may be susceptible to different things and situations around them.
Here is a beautiful video by Alex Amelines an introduction to autism that aims to raise awareness among young non-autistic audiences, to stimulate understanding and acceptance in future generations.
Amazing Things Happen
Individuals with ASD respond to visual stimuli entirely differently than someone without ASD. Due to their hypersensitivity, they prefer things that are simple and quiet. While good UI design is important for any product or site, it’s even more important when designing for individuals on the autism spectrum.
In yet another video, Alex allows us to listen to children from different backgrounds share their unique experiences of the autistic spectrum in their own words. Alex started this project back in 2017 by asking parents of autistic children to interview their kids and share their answers with us. The questions and parents’ guide were put together with the help of the lovely people at ADD-vance Trust in Hertfordshire.
Amazing Kids - Autistic Spectrum Condition
To learn more about Alex and Amazing Things, Click Here.
To read more about UX design for ASD, Click Here.
As always, please share this newsletter with your friends and family. Also, visit our main website https://www.dwellability.com/ to learn more about Home Sharing for People with Disabilities…by People with Disabilities.
Cheers!
Jeff