Report Copyright Infringement View in OSM UK

Description

A brief introduction and experience of sensory overload to help us better empathise.

Resources

1 pack of cards per person (or half a pack per person).
Various means of distraction:
- Devices to play various videos (Search youtube for things like: baby shark 10 hour, bingo callout video, 10 hour distraction dance, flashing light video)
- Radios are handy
- If there's a tap/sink and you can have dribbling water that's helpful
- Fans
- Flashing ligths

Instructions

2 minutes: Welcome, intro. What does anyone know about autism?
2 minutes: Brief explanation of sensory perception issues.
3 minutes: Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgDR_gYk_a8
5 minutes:
Give each participant a full red deck and black deck (e.g. the Diamonds and the Clubs).
Ask them to arrange them in numeric order (for Cubs tell them to skip the letters), with all the black cards first and all the red cards second.
As they begin, start all the distractions. ( ), turn on the tap, turn on fan, play with the lights, have the printer making some noise etc, put the radio on etc.
00

Suggested distractions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgDR_gYk_a8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZUDifWialc&t=231s
Radio 4
Tap dribbling into a mug of water
Disco light (or turn the room lights up and down)

2 Minutes: Finish the activity:

This isn't exactly what it's like to be autistic, but the purpose of this activity is to try and appreciate what sensory overload might mean - so we can be better friends to autistic persons.

Ask how it felt? Now imagine that everyday noises were that distracting - the sound of the fridge (do you even notice it?!) birds chirping outside, people speaking to your normally.

Talk a bit about how we can be better friends to autistic people:
- Don't change plans once they've been made
- Try to recognise when they may be struggling from sensory overload, and try not to contribute to it.
- Give them time/space if they need to disconnect from the world a little. We all need to "get away from it" sometimes.
- Be extra patient when giving them information, they're just as smart as you are but may need a bit of extra time to get the information into their brain.
- Ask how they prefer to communicate (SMS, phone calls etc).


Risk Assessment: Minimal risks, we're sitting at a desk performing a task.
Trigger warning for anyone with sensory issues (check OSM/your records for issues beforehand, and leader to pay attention to the wellbeing of participents). Have a safe space for those who do not want to take part.

Tags

• autism
• experience
• Sensory Play

Badge Links

• Disability Awareness - Communicating
• Disability Awareness - Explain