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Q&A: Inside the Autism Reality Experience returning to Naidex next month

The hugely popular Autism Reality Experience will make a return to Naidex this month.

Developed by Glenn Knight, Managing Director of Training 2 CARE, alongside autistic people, the immersive training programme is designed to give non-autistic individuals a firsthand understanding of the processing challenges faced by those on the autism spectrum.

Delegates taking part in the experience will feel the impact of sensory hypersensitivity, proprioceptive hyposensitivity, vestibular hypersensitivity, difficulty processing language and instructions, reduced flexibility of thoughts and environments that don’t account for individual needs.

Ahead of Naidex, we caught up with Michael Peachey, Associate Director at Training 2 CARE, to learn more about the origins of the experience and the impact it has had on individuals across the UK.

When was the Autism Reality Experience first developed, and what inspired Glenn to create it?

The Autism Reality Experience (ARE) began development around a decade ago. Its origins stem from the successful roll out of the Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT). Glenn felt that if we can stimulate dementia and empower people to make this world a better place for everyone affected by dementia, we could do the same for people with autism.

Glenn worked with the National Autistic Society, sensory Occupational Therapists, and over 150 neurodiverse individuals to develop the experience.

What impact has the experience had on people and families across the UK since its launch?

The impact of the ARE has been nothing short of incredible. The most common feedback we get is that we’ve helped non-autistic individuals understand what their loved one or people they support might be experiencing. Participants leave with practical ideas they can immediately use to improve lives.

The experience has been so popular that we have been asked to design new versions that are bespoke for different settings. So far, we have created 13 versions, tailored to settings including schools, prisons, supermarkets, offices, dental surgeries, and hospitals.

What can visitors expect from the Autism Reality Experience, and who will benefit?

No matter how much experience you have, whether you’re a family member, carer, educator, health professional, or someone who occasionally interacts with autistic people, the ARE will completely change your perceptions and reshape your understanding of what it is like to live with autism.

How can anyone really know what another person might be experiencing unless they have walked in their shoes? That’s what this experience allows people to do.

How did the collaboration with Naidex come about and why did you choose this event to showcase the experience?

We have been exhibiting at Naidex since before the Covid-19 pandemic. We were fortunate that the show organisers realised the importance and effectiveness of experiential training very early on in our existence and they reached out to us about exhibiting. The experience has always proven to be hugely popular, with people coming to the show specifically to take part.

Our mission is to make society more inclusive, empowering and a place where people recognise strengths rather than focusing on challenges - values that align perfectly with Naidex. We’re honoured to partner with this event and excited to continue working together to create positive change.

To find out more about the Autism Reality Experience, click here.