Autism "Reality Tour"

A reality tour that lets people experience how it feels to have autism has been launched to promote awareness.

16:31 30 January 2017

The Autism Reality Experience has been launched in the UK to give people a first-hand experience of what it feels like to suffer from the disorder. It uses a unique simulator that asks users to carry out simple tasks while being completely overwhelmed by light and sound. They are also made to wear headphones, gloves, and glasses that make it difficult for them to filter out the senses around them.

 

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.'

 

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.'