The chapter explores the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in public spaces and the importance of creating autism-friendly environments. It highlights efforts made in Mesa, Arizona, to become the first autism certified city and discusses the impact of an autism inclusion program on training hospitality staff and promoting sensory-friendly activities.
A few years back, journalist Lauren Ober was diagnosed with autism. She then made a podcast about her experience called The Loudest Girl in the World. And she found herself imagining a fantasy world where everything is tailored to Lauren’s very specific autistic needs. And she called this magical imagined place, wonderfully devoid of overwhelming stimuli "Autism Pleasantville."
"Obviously," Ober notes, "there’s not a one-size fits all diagnosis or even definition of autism ... as the autism adage goes: 'If you know one autistic person…you know one autistic person.' But despite our wide variety of needs, I wanted to know how design is evolving to better accommodate us" -- how were ideals being handled in the real world.
Autism Pleasantville