The Autism Reality Experience (ARE) is an immersive training program designed to help neurotypical individuals better understand the sensory processing challenges faced by people with autism.
Autism Bus
The 3 hour Autism Reality Experience is an innovative, immersive and hands on training which has been developed to give neurotypical people an opportunity to enter the neurodiverse world and experience the sensory processing difficulties faced by people on the autism spectrum.
Invented by Training 2 CARE’s CEO Glenn Knight and 150 Autistic people, the Autism Reality Experience truly puts the challenges that people with autism experience face into perspective to embed empathy, understanding and inclusive support.
The ‘ARE’ challenges normal thinking and directly confronts you with the profound impact of the environment, communication and much more. As a delegate, you will feel the impact of:
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Hypersensitivity to the sensory environment
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How it feels to become overwhelmed
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Proprioceptive hyposensitivity
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Vestibular hypersensitivity
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Difficulty processing language and instructions
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Flexibility of thought issues
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Being in an environment that doesn’t account for your needs
The Autism Reality Experience is the benchmark that other autism training courses strive to achieve and by using specially developed sensory changing equipment, the delegates will be transported into a world that they could not imagine, just for a short period of time. After the experience there is an extensive de-brief that allows you to understand the changes you need to make to improve their lives.
Outcomes Covered:
- A virtual experience of autism
- Time for feedback and reflection on own responses/behaviour during the experience
- Sensory sensitivities - our seven senses and how they can be affected by autistic spectrum conditions
- Strategies to support people with sensory processing difficulties
- How to identify anxiety in someone with autism
- Strategies to alleviate anxieties for people with autism (including the use of TEACCH)
- Exploring the use of sensory items
- Environmental considerations for someone with autism
- An introduction to behaviours that can challenge
- Techniques to manage behaviours that can challenge
- How to access support and advice from other organisations such as the National Autistic Society
If you are interested in booking a space to attend, please contact The Learning Partnership warwickshirelearninganddevelopmentpartnership@warwickshire.gov.uk . Alternatively, you can contact Kate Shorthose kateshorthose@warwickshire.gov.uk