{"id":12661,"date":"2023-04-03T17:53:49","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T12:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/?page_id=12661"},"modified":"2023-05-12T22:17:41","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T16:47:41","slug":"sensory-experiences","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/sensory-experiences\/","title":{"rendered":"Sensory Experiences"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"12661\" class=\"elementor elementor-12661\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-98c8ed6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"98c8ed6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-368562c\" data-id=\"368562c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-249ccb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"249ccb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.12.1 - 02-04-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sensory Experiences<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2f40a15 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2f40a15\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c0fd34c\" data-id=\"c0fd34c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-565a56a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"565a56a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.12.1 - 02-04-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"712\" height=\"475\" src=\"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ex-3.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12686\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ex-3.png 712w, https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ex-3-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-107ea21 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"107ea21\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9ef940b\" data-id=\"9ef940b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff90565 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff90565\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Understanding Sensory Experiences<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ec0e3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ec0e3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.12.1 - 02-04-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Have\u00a0you\u00a0ever\u00a0been\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0lecture\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0centre\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0busy\u00a0train\u00a0station?<\/p><div><div>Imagine trying to focus on a presentation while crowds of peak-time commuters stream past you in both directions. You try to make notes, but the pungent bouquet of people\u2019s perfumes, colognes and other bodily odours make your nose sting and your eyes water. The reflection of the sun off a metal surface further blurs your vision. Someone noisily slurps a coffee \u2013 which reminds you that you missed breakfast, which makes your stomach rumble loudly, making you feel self-conscious of your own body and its reactions to everything going on around you. You suddenly realise you are not taking in anything that the lecturer is saying, which in turn kickstarts your anxiety and makes your mind and heart race. You love this course, but the physical environment is so overwhelming, all you want to do is run far away!<\/div><div><div><div>This is how an autistic student may experience a shared learning space in your tertiary institution.<\/div><br \/><div>Autism impacts a person\u2019s senses &#8211; their sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, balance (vestibular) and body awareness (proprioception and interoception) (Altogether Autism, n.d.). In short, it impacts the way they interact with the world around them. Hyposensitivity or hypersensitivity to stimuli impacts an autistic person\u2019s ability to concentrate on everyday tasks.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0f9ee63 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0f9ee63\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1b0883c\" data-id=\"1b0883c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91c14be elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"91c14be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Survey Findings<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac01f16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ac01f16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Almost 60% of learners surveyed by Altogether Autism described sensory issues as \u2018very challenging\u2019 in\u00a0tertiary education, with one survey participant describing lectures as \u201ca bombardment of buzzing lights\u00a0and\u00a0air-con, clicking pens\u00a0and seats\u00a0being kicked.\u201d<\/p><p>Sensory experiences like this can cause anxiety and make it hard for an autistic person to process all the\u00a0information they are receiving. This can cause stress and anxiety and lead to withdrawal, shut down and\/or\u00a0meltdown,\u00a0which can be both\u00a0physically and emotionally\u00a0exhausting for\u00a0them.<\/p><p><em>\u201cUnder<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>this<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>kind<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>of<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>stress,<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>my<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>sensory<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>issues<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>are<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>heightened,<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>and<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>I<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>hear<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>every<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>little<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>sound.<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>I<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>see<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>everything<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>and<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>nothing<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>on<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>the<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>paper<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>at<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>the<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>same<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>time<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>and<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>get<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>a<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>headache<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>from<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>the<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>fluorescent<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>lights.\u201d <\/em>(Autistic\u00a0tertiary\u00a0student)<\/p><p>Surprisingly, sensory accommodations were ranked well down the list of types of assistance requested\u00a0by autistic learners in our survey &#8211; listed below requests for assistance with mental health, executive\u00a0functioning, and communication issues. Almost 50% of survey participants had never asked for support\u00a0with\u00a0sensory\u00a0issues.<\/p><h6><strong><b>Survey<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>respondents<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>listed<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>a<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>variety<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>of<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>reasons<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>for<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>not<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>seeking<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><strong><b>support:<\/b><\/strong><\/h6><ul><li>Not wanting to disclose their diagnosis. One student commented: <em>\u201cI do not seek support<\/em><em>as<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>much<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>as<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>I<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>could<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>because<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>I<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>am<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>trying<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>to<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>fit<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Notknowing that support was available<\/li><li>Not realisingthey\u00a0could ask\u00a0for\u00a0help\u00a0until\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0too late.<\/li><li>Disliking\u2018confrontation\u2019\u00a0with\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p>In terms of specific sensory supports, 58% of learners surveyed said that a more flexible learning\u00a0environment is needed. 37% percent of learners surveyed identified breakout spaces as a sensory\u00a0support\u00a0that is\u00a0needed in their\u00a0tertiary\u00a0institution.<\/p><p>In addition, 31% of wh\u0101nau members who took part in the survey wanted to see an increase in knowledge around\u00a0sensory issues for\u00a0autistic learners.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-01a06e7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"01a06e7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5a7d3e0\" data-id=\"5a7d3e0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd8ad39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bd8ad39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-medium\">Understanding instructions in assignments, exams, and assessments<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5efa0e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5efa0e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Sensory-friendly spaces on campus are a great way to acknowledge an autistic student\u2019s need for regular\u00a0breaks from the physical\u00a0and\u00a0social demands\u00a0of school\u00a0life.<\/p><p>Sensory-friendly breakout spaces can have a dual purpose: they are a place for neurodivergent learners\u00a0and staff to connect and socialise, and also serve as a place of calm for those learners who need physical\u00a0rest after social interaction or after being in a high sensory environment. These spaces can be a place of\u00a0respite,\u00a0where there are no social,\u00a0sensory or\u00a0time demands\u00a0on the student.<\/p><p><em>\u201cI mostly need space on campus where I can be myself and be alone. When I need space, I usually spend<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>some time in the bathroom, which isn\u2019t ideal, if there was a space for me to recover from social interactions<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>that<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>would<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>help<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>me<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>the<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>most.\u201d<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em>(Autistic\u00a0tertiary\u00a0student)<\/p><h5>Features of\u00a0a\u00a0breakout space\u00a0may include\u00a0the\u00a0following:<\/h5><ul><li>Naturalor adjustable lighting\u00a0<\/li><li>Acousticpanels\u00a0for\u00a0sound\u00a0absorption\/low\u00a0noise\u00a0<\/li><li>Comfortable, moveable, andmouldable seating, e.g.,\u00a0bean bags, yoga mats.<\/li><li>Sensory aides available, e.g.,weighted blankets,\u00a0fidget toys etc.<\/li><li>Aclear\u00a0and\u00a0logical\u00a0layout\u00a0with\u00a0defined\u00a0areas\u00a0suitable\u00a0for\u00a0quiet\u00a0time,\u00a0socialis\u00a0ing\u00a0and\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p>Furthermore, a map identifying high and low sensory \u2018zones\u2019 around the wider campus can also be helpful\u00a0for\u00a0learners\u00a0looking to\u00a0self-regulate their\u00a0sensory\u00a0input\u00a0while navigating campus\u00a0life.<\/p><p>Survey respondents found both benefits and disadvantages in having breakout spaces available on\u00a0campus. Some appreciated having a place where they could connect with other autistic learners, while\u00a0others found socialising\u00a0with\u00a0other\u00a0users\u00a0\u201cincredibly awkward if\u00a0you aren\u2019t\u00a0with an\u00a0extrovert.\u201d<\/p><p>Co-designing on-campus sensory friendly spaces can be a collaboration between autistic learners,\u00a0wh\u0101nau,\u00a0on-campus\u00a0disability\u00a0services\u00a0and\u00a0external\u00a0disability\u00a0organisations.\u00a0This\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0positive\u00a0strategy\u00a0which\u00a0acknowledges the\u00a0importance\u00a0of\u00a0including and\u00a0amplifying\u00a0the\u00a0voices of\u00a0autistic\u00a0learners.<\/p><p>There are opportunities for both proactively and retroactively designing sensory friendly spaces by\u00a0assessing accessible features of existing buildings and incorporating sensory accessibility as part of the\u00a0planning process for new builds. This will create a welcoming and inclusive space for all learners with\u00a0additional\u00a0needs.<\/p><p>Similarly, understanding and adopting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles is not so much about\u00a0addressing\u00a0the\u00a0needs\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0few,\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0about\u00a0creating\u00a0an\u00a0accessible\u00a0and\u00a0inclusive\u00a0educational\u00a0environment\u00a0for all. Creating physical and sensory environments where everyone has what they need is a great way to\u00a0show\u00a0that a tertiary\u00a0institution values\u00a0all\u00a0of their\u00a0learners.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3a77790 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3a77790\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-817959a\" data-id=\"817959a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcbf52c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fcbf52c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-medium\">You Can Support Your Learners by:<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72af4c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72af4c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Encouraging<\/strong><strong>and<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>normalising<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>the<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>use<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>of<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>sensory<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>aides,<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>such<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>as<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>noise<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>cancelling<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>headphones,<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>fidget toys, Irlen lens glasses, assistance dogs etc., in your class. <\/strong>These can lessen an autistic\u00a0student\u2019s anxiety\u00a0and\u00a0improve their\u00a0ability to concentrate\u00a0on their\u00a0<\/li><li><strong>Reviewing<\/strong><strong>your<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>physical<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>classroom<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>What\u00a0can\u00a0you\u00a0do\u00a0to\u00a0create\u00a0a\u00a0predictable,\u00a0sensory\u00a0friendly and welcoming learning environment for\u00a0your\u00a0autistic\u00a0learners?<\/li><li><div><div><strong>Recognising that autistic learners many need<\/strong> extra preparation and recovery time due to their sensory needs. Many survey respondents commented on how hard it is working in a large (or small) study group, describing the social and sensory demands as physically and emotionally exhausting: \u201cEvery aspect of large-group learning is too overwhelming and people do not seem to understand how much that impacts my ability to \u201cshow\u201d my skills. I hate it so much that I lost so many marks on assignments just because I couldn\u2019t focus in the environment I was in. In addition to this being extremely exhausting for me so I knew that every time I had a laboratory class, I couldn\u2019t plan on doing anything else for that day.\u201d It is important that extra time for autistic learners to prepare beforehand and rest after study group interactions is factored into their day<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div><div><strong>Ensuring learners with sensory needs can access accommodations for exams.<\/strong> \u201cSometimes a person clicking a pen continuously or a calculator making a noise or too bright lighting can really have an impact on our exam outcomes. People don\u2019t understand that it\u2019s more than annoying, it\u2019soverwhelming.\u201d As this student explains in our survey, exams create a particularly challenging sensory experience. Imagine trying to sit an exam in the middle of a busy train station! Ensure that you engage with autistic learners in the lead up to exams, to see if there are any accommodations, they need to alleviate any anxiety around this already stressful experience.<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f2258d2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f2258d2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2479543\" data-id=\"2479543\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd0d835 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bd0d835\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Final Words<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6d4062 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e6d4062\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div><div>A welcoming and supportive tertiary institution culture requires little financial, but significant attitudinal investment to improve the experiences of autistic learners. Designated areas for sensory regulation are invaluable resources for autistic learners, but so too is staff being flexible and open-minded when sensory accommodations are requested. Understanding and respecting the broad spectrum of strengths and challenges an autistic student experiences in daily life can go a very long way.<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sensory Experiences Understanding Sensory Experiences Have\u00a0you\u00a0ever\u00a0been\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0lecture\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0centre\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0busy\u00a0train\u00a0station? Imagine trying to focus on a presentation while crowds of peak-time commuters stream past you in both directions. You try to make notes, but the pungent bouquet of people\u2019s perfumes, colognes and other bodily odours make your nose sting and your eyes water. The reflection of the sun off [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12661"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12661"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12661\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16138,"href":"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12661\/revisions\/16138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacvirast.com\/accNew\/accvirast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}