Outside space

Many autistic people like to use their gardens for a variety of reasons - some enjoy gardening, some physical exercise, some trampolining etc. A garden is a useful way to enjoy being outside without having to come into contact with people outside the household. This is especially necessary when interaction with those outside the household can be distressing or unwelcome - thinking of my own kids enjoying our trampoline in the garden after a day of being misunderstood at school. 

However, neighbours can be tricky creatures in terms of not understanding that older children/adults find sensory regulation in trampoline bouncing and other noisy activities so it might be worth investing in high fencing, and trees. Shrubs etc to soak up a bit of noise. Of course Disability Discrimination acts do offer protection for this sort of thing but that's massively stressful. Sometimes equipment can be placed at the far reaches of gardens to also cut down on how noise reaches the neighbours."

Rachel

I went through my photographs on Flikr to find images of sensory peace, what works for sensory comfort. On looking at them something struck me; they are mostly of old buildings lit with natural light, containing no artificial primary colours and with soft acoustics. The other photographs are of countryside, outside places, naturally lit with natural sounds. None of these photographs include modern artificial colour or design, no artificial lighting and would have no modern sounds with the exception of aircraft flying overhead. All these places are places I choose to be and will travel a long way to get to. In all these places I am in sensory peace, becoming relaxed and want to stay."

Richard