Developing an autism inclusion program in Mesa was initiated by Mark to address the judgment and lack of understanding faced by parents of autistic children. The program involved training hospitality staff to recognize and be aware of autism, offering autism-friendly activities, and providing professional development across various industries. The goal was to meet autistic individuals at their level, leading to Mesa being designated an autism-certified city. This initiative not only benefitted the autistic community but also made good business sense by advancing accessibility needs beyond altruism.
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