Autism-friendly
Autism-friendly means being aware of social engagement and environmental factors affecting autistic people, with modifications to communication methods and physical space to better suit individuals' unique and special needs.
The difference is they are not able to process it in the same manner as their neurotypical peers and can become overwhelmed by the amount of information that they are receiving and withdraw as a coping mechanism.
As such, they may experience difficulty in public settings due to inhibited communication, social interaction or flexibility of thought development.
For example, a person might think that someone is being rude if they will not look them in the eyes or does not understand cliches like "it's a piece of cake", when in fact there may be a reason for this.
Depending upon the individual's degree of language ability, a person who hears "it's a piece of cake" may take that literally and not understand that what is really meant is "it will be easy".
[2][4][5] Some Autistic people may be hypersensitive to changes in sight, touch, smell, taste and sound; The sensory stimulus could be very distracting or they could result in pain or anxiety.
Social Stories, which explain what the experience will be like (such as loud noises, needing a break and moving through a crowd), were made available prior to the performance.
Some movie theaters are becoming more autism friendly: the lighting is adjusted so it is not so dark, the volume is reduced and queues are managed to prevent crowding.
[20] The malls open early to allow entry only to families with autistic children, who have a private visit with Santa Claus.
[21] The children are given a booklet explaining the process, and upon arrival at the mall are placed in a waiting area near Santa Claus before their visit "to ensure their comfort".
[22] Teachers play a key role in the success of an autistic student by helping them to understand directions, organize tasks and support their achievements.
[25][26] In regards to students who show a significant delay in acquiring academic and verbal communication skills, one available option is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)-style placement for their child.
For instance, computer applications or DVDs of actors making facial expressions to inform how body language provides clues about how someone might be feeling.
Tesco, a multinational supermarket chain, has implemented training for its employees to meet the needs of its customers who are on the autism spectrum, which is estimated to be one of every 100 people in the United Kingdom.
Employees use an online training site and respond to a questionnaire to assess the extent to which they became more aware of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Tesco is the first company to participate in an awareness program led by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA).
The online training and questionnaire tool is intended to be used by many organizations in Wales to identify and commend businesses that are "ASD Aware".
[37] The SERVICE principles[definition needed] have been developed to guide businesses in making no-cost or low-cost changes to their premises and practices.
The movement advocates giving children more tools to cope with the non-autistic world instead of trying to change them into neurotypicals, and says society should learn to tolerate harmless behaviours such as tics and stims like hand-flapping or humming.
[41] Autism rights activists say that "tics, like repetitive rocking and violent outbursts" can be managed if others make an effort to understand autistic people, while other autistic traits, "like difficulty with eye contact, with grasping humor or with breaking from routines", would not require corrective efforts if others were more tolerant.
