THE MOONSHOT VISION – Adapting public spaces and services

During 2022, autistic people and their families worked alongside the National Autistic Society to create a vision of a society that works for them – a vision launched this week in our groundbreaking Moonshot report. Throughout the week, we’re taking a closer look at each of the “Future Realities” – the five things autistic people told us would together make up a society that truly works for them. 

We’ll know that society works for autistic people and their families when it:

• Values autistic individuals
• Maximises autistic power
• Guarantees support
• Adapts public spaces and services
• Is free from discrimination

A society that works for autistic people adapts public spaces and services. It designs spaces and services that are autistic inclusive, with flexible adjustments that recognise that not all autistic people have the same preferences.

Public spaces and services should be open and accessible to all. Being excluded – whether from healthcare, the justice system, employment support or museums, shops or sports stadiums – because of sensory needs or communication differences, is not acceptable. In a society that works for autistic people and their families, adjustments would be built in from the start. There would be a proactive and flexible approach to individual needs, without the pressure being on autistic people or their support networks to have to ask.

As part of the insight-gathering with autistic people and their families last year, we considered different hypothetical scenarios, and explored what these might look like in an autism-friendly future. Something as seemingly simple as a trip to the dentist can be a daunting experience without the right adjustments, support and understanding. The following scenario describes what it would look and feel like in a society that adapts public spaces and services. 

"Carl" is in supported living and doesn’t use speech. He knows that his support worker will drive him to his dentist appointment at 3pm and will stay with him the whole time. Last week Carl visited the clinic with his support worker to look around. Everyone who works there understands autism and has had training. The receptionist printed a visual guide for Carl to look at when he was at home, and his support worker has spent the past few days talking him through what will happen at the appointment. The dentist knows to give Carl clear information about each step of his examination, and to not use loud equipment. This means Carl isn’t worried about what will happen – he knows and trusts the dentist.

For many autistic people and their families, their experiences of using public spaces and services is very different from the scenario described above.

There is a huge amount of work to do to achieve a society that truly works for autistic people. But we choose to do it, along with hundreds of thousands of others. And we won’t stop until we succeed. 

To find out more, see The Moonshot Vision.

Tim Nicholls, Head of Influencing and Research, National Autistic Society