Updates

Updates

Focus Groups – Round 2

We have had a very productive couple of months since our last update. Following our first found of focus groups, we have been busy analysing the responses using an approach called content analysis. We used this approach to identify which public places people from the focus groups commonly identified as particularly challenging. There were severalContinue reading “Focus Groups – Round 2”

Thank you to @durhamuniversity and @uniofreading for inviting us to present about Sensory Street at their research group meeting on the 8th of October! We loved having the chance to learn more about research focused on sensory processing in autistic people at both universities and we look forward to learning more about all the projects in the future 🎓⠀ The final part of our resource pack for autistic children is the Street of Dreams. Here, the children are encouraged to try and figure out how they could change more challenging locations to make it the place of their dreams. For example, if they do not like the noise at a supermarket, the supermarket on their street of dreams might be quiet. Do you work in or know a special school who you think might want to be involved? If so get in touch!⠀ Part of the UK Government’s new policy paper on supporting autistic people focuses on helping autistic children and young people at school. Here at Sensory Street we want to help people learn more about autistic young people and children’s views on a range of public spaces. Want to learn more about us? Visit our website, follow us to hear about the results of our project or send us a message to ask a question! The Street of worries in our resource pack for autistic children is the part of the map where children will be able to put different locations that they find it more difficult to go to or do not enjoy going to. Once we have identified these locations for each child, the pack helps teachers, TAs and LSAs to investigate what sensory aspects the child finds more difficult about that place e.g. how bright or dark it is. Do you work in or know a special school who you think might want to be involved? If so get in touch!⠀ In a recent study, parents and teachers reported that sensory difficulties can have impact on autistic children’s learning within school. In particular unpredictable and uncontrollable experiences can be challenging, such as unexpected touch, loud noises or flickering lights. As part of our project at Sensory Street we want to learn more about the sensory experiences of autistic children in public places such as schools. We will be working with a range of schools to learn more about their experiences. Stay tuned to learn more about how it goes! The Street of Good Places in our resource pack for autistic children is the part of the map where children will be able to put different locations that they enjoy going to. Once we have identified their favourite locations, the pack helps teachers, TAs and LSAs to investigate what it is that the child likes about that place such as how quiet or noisy it is. Do you work in or know a special school who you think might want to be involved? If so get in touch!⠀ This month many children in Great Britain are returning to school after the summer holidays, but did you know that 27% of children with a statement of SEN or EHCP in schools in the UK have a diagnosis of autism? Difficulties in sensory processing can make school harder for autistic children, such as being able to follow verbal instructions in a noisy classroom. Here at Sensory Street we want to learn more about children’s views using our packs for schools. Follow us to learn more over the next few weeks about how we will be using our packs to collect autistic children’s perspectives…⠀ One step in the UK Government’s new policy paper on supporting autistic people is all about helping people, organisations, and businesses to understand autism. That’s nothing new to us at Sensory Street, as our research project is all about helping the public to learn more about the experiences of autistic people in public spaces. Want to learn more about us? Visit our website, follow us to hear about the results of our recent focus groups or send us a message to ask a question! ⠀ Did you know that in July the UK Government launched a multi-million-pound strategy to improve the lives of autistic people? The five year plan covers six main points including supporting the experiences of autistic children in the education system as well as training for prison staff to better support prisoners with complex needs. Find out more at https://buff.ly/zx24mk⠀
About Us

We’re Sensory Street, a University of Oxford Research Project exploring the lives of autistic people with sensory processing disorder through creative and immersive experiences. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for regular updates about the project and subscribe to our blog to hear more in depth updates about how we are doing!

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