The Autism Reality Experience (ARE) bus has just completed a tour of the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon borough, in partnership with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
The bus offers an innovative, immersive and hands on training which has been developed to give neurotypical people an opportunity to enter the neurodiverse world and experience the sensory processing difficulties faced by people on the autism spectrum.
Welcoming the ARE bus to the borough, Lord Mayor Alderman Stephen Moutray said:
“This virtual reality technology offers an eye-opening experience into the sensory challenges encountered by individuals on the autism spectrum.
“We hope that by taking part in this experience and allowing people to navigate an intense sensory overload, people will reassess their perspective on autism and have greater empathy and understanding towards those living with autism.”
Stepping inside the bus and engaging in the training allowed parents and carers to encounter a barrage of sensory experiences, including impaired vision, flashing lights and a cacophony of sounds from ringing phones to dripping taps and ticking clocks.
Collectively these experiences gave an insight into the impact of hypersensitivity to the sensory environment, how it feels to become overwhelmed, proprioceptive hyposensitivity, vestibular hypersensitivity, difficulty processing language and instructions, flexibility of thought issues and being in an environment that doesn’t account for your needs.
A variety of wraparound services also supported the tour offering information and advice, including Cedar Foundation, Clanyre Carers First, Make the Call, SHSCT Carers Coordinator, SHSCT Stop Smoking Services, Bolster, Appleby Trust, Verve Health Trainers and ABC Council’s Sports Development.
The bus, facilitated by Training2Care, travelled from Brownstown Jubilee Community Centre to Gilford Community Centre and Brownlow Community Hub (funded by the Public Health Agency) before finishing at the Cathedral Road Recreation Centre, Armagh (funded by the Department for Communities Growing Communities project).
