Poster De Conférence Année : 2025

Adapting the City to the Specific Sensory Needs of Autistic People: A Participatory Research Approach

Résumé

Context: Cities are spaces in which our senses are particularly solicited: vehicle noise, light reflections on glass surfaces, illuminated signs, food odors and more.... For people with atypical neurological or sensory functioning, such as autistic individuals, the intense sensory stimulation present in urban environments can make cities overwhelming, limiting their autonomy and quality of life. The aim of this study is to identify the micro-designs of public space that are favorable and unfavorable to people with autism, based on their experiential knowledge. Method: During the first stage, this participatory project was designed by a consortium of researchers, autistic people, clinicians and local authority representatives, all of whom were involved in decision-making throughout the project’s stages., After receiving ethical approval, an initial phase consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 autistic adults and 20 professionals who work with them on a daily basis (e.g., specialized educators, psychologists). Participants were asked to express their experience of the city, based on photographs of the urban environment (streets, crosswalks, benches). In a second phase, five design thinking workshops were held with local authority staff (road planning, accessibility),organizations and autistic people, to present the results and foster the collaborative development of solutions, using the various expertise, to make the city more accessible. Results: Overall, urban designs of cities are often a significant source of fatigue, physical discomfort or pain, anxiety and even distress for autistic people. However, micro-designs modifications in public spaces can improve their experience autonomy. Findings showed that sidewalks should be sufficiently wide, with clear traffic- flows rules and indicators, visually-defined boundaries with the roadway, shaded, and not cluttered on the ground. Crosswalks should follow a standardized structure to facilitate identification and use. Vehicles and bicycles speeds should be reduced. Finally, incorporation of quiet areas, plants or water features (fountains, streams) can improve the urban experience for autistic people. The presence of dogs was also identified as an area of interest for some autistic people and warrants further exploration. Discussion: Reducing sensory stimuli to those useful for interaction with urban environments can help limit sensory overload. Physically structuring public spaces to take account of visual, deficit of visual function and vestibular particularities, along with the creation of recuperation areas through increased natural elements, and clearly defined public space usage rules would improve the autonomy for autistic people. Only a participatory approach involving the voices of people with autism and professionals can gather this type of information, which comes under the heading of user expertise. Future perspectives include testing the effect of these micro-adaptations on the behavior and well-being of autistic people during their regular walk but also better characterize the neurovisual and vestibular disorders that have an impact on the urban experience of autistic people. Conclusion: Cities are rich in stimuli that are often poorly adapted to the atypical functioning of autistic people. However, simple solutions can be implemented to enhance walkability, autonomy and overall well-being for neurodivergent individuals in urban environments.

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hal-05104785 , version 1 (10-06-2025)

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Marie Pieron, Fanny Berland, Adeline Lacroix, Grégory Widmer, Marie-Hélène Audier, et al.. Adapting the City to the Specific Sensory Needs of Autistic People: A Participatory Research Approach. INSAR 2025, Apr 2025, Seattle, France. 2025, ⟨10.3390/ijerph18063203⟩. ⟨hal-05104785⟩
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