Table 3.
Case: Supermarkets | |
---|---|
Sensoryscape | High sensory burden, sustained and inescapable input, and uncontrollable environment |
Example | Bright unnatural light, shiny floors, visual information from products; noise from checkouts, customers, trolleys, announcements, and background music; smells. Quiet hours can be more enabling, as this reduces the burden of the sensory input. |
Space | Busy and crowded, and confined built environment |
Example | People often brush up against you. Can be more tolerable at quieter times and if the built environment is more spread out. |
Predictability | Uncertainty, inconsistent and unfamiliar, and lack of information |
Example | The layout and arrangement of products is often changed, which heighten sensory challenges. Would be helpful to know about changes in advance (e.g., map of new layout), as knowing the layout in advance can limit the time spent in an overwhelming sensory environment. |
Understanding | Unsupportive people, and misunderstanding and judgment |
Example | Staff lack understanding of sensory processing and autism, which makes it difficult to access support. Individuals feel judged for accessing existing supports (e.g., quiet hours). This could be improved by not only training staff in autism and sensory processing, but also supporting improvements in customer awareness. |
Adjustments | Unsuitable adjustments, pace pressures, and inflexible communication |
Example | Feeling overwhelmed by the sensory environment can make the fast pace and spoken language requirements at staffed checkouts challenging for individuals. Self-checkouts or scan-as-you-shop can be more enabling as speaking to staff can be avoided. The Sunflower Lanyard currently seems tokenistic, as it does not result in adequate adjustments and quiet hours should be made more widely accessible for a range of individuals. |
Recovery | No space to escape, and unable to prepare and recover |
Example | Individuals can feel trapped in some supermarkets and unable to escape for a break if feeling overwhelmed (e.g., if there are barriers at checkouts). |
We also developed case studies in other commonly disabling sensory environments: Eateries; Highstreets and City/town centers; Public transport; Health care settings.