Shared spaces and communal living

Considering and meeting the sensory needs of autistic people in housing

This project was commissioned in 2020 from NDTI by the Care and Health Improvement programme and co-produced with a group of people with lived experience.

The main reasons for this were the limitations in choice and control for sensory stimulus, including unpredictable and uncomfortable sounds and smells, and challenges in shared spaces.

"Sensory wise, shared accommodation made such a huge negative impact on my mental and physical health."
Carly

Generally, people reflected on the challenges of everyday and ordinary activities that are not unreasonable but have a disproportionately negative impact on people with heightened sensory sensitivity. This included: other people having different schedules and arriving home late or having early alarms; different smells – including foods, cleaning products, perfumes, washing detergents; use of TVs, mobile phones or music; the noise of doors closing; washing machines, heating and other activities that may alter the physical environment or add to noise in the water pipes.

"If I was living with other people again then good sound isolation in my bedroom would be important, so I could escape if needed."
James

Shared spaces, including entrances, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms etc can also be anxiety-provoking.

I think one of the problems with communal spaces is that they can seem faceless, not seeming to belong to anyone, therefore at risk of not being cared about and then neglected. Which makes them a more anxiety-provoking place to be, a place where things may not work or people don't care what happens to them, or to the people in them. Fights, bullying, abuse. Like the playgrounds at school where I might shrink to the edges, or the canteen you can't enter unless you are with one of the 'right' people.

Just to add, the difficulties with communal spaces are, for me:

1. Do I feel like I belong in them?

2. Can I be in that environment without feeling overwhelmed from a sensory perspective (and from social interaction demands)?

3. Do I feel safe?

I guess, therefore, the way to make them safer is to engage the whole community in designing and caring for and 'owning' the communal areas."

Ruth

People also commented on the importance of being able to have private space other than a bedroom to relax in.

If there was a communal living area, I would find that tough. I’d prefer to live on my own. It would be very stressful to be around lots of people and not be able to find my own space. I would find it a very very very stressful experience feeling like I couldn’t go and find a space to chill out. It would lead to mental shut down or trying to leave the area to find somewhere quiet."

Karl

Shared spaces and communal living

Highlighted pages

Considering and meeting the sensory needs of autistic people in housing

Other things to consider