Autism

Barriers

Key Features of the Collision Between Autistic Traits and a Non-Autistic Environment

Guest post by "Enthinderungsselbsthilfe" (Self-Help for the Removal of Barriers) – by autistics for autistics and their families

Barriers which can disturb people.pdf

It can be a terrible experience to be overwhelmed beyond measure by situations that seem a matter of course to others. This can lead to a significant self-perception of failure and to psychological trauma, the reasons for which the non-autistic environment cannot even remotely comprehend.

Anyone who must live in a world that is not designed according to their own natural disposition can develop significant self-doubt. The thought that one is not the problem oneself, but rather the unsuitable environmental design, is quite far-fetched without contact with the autistic subculture.

Under-average height individuals are visibly unable, for all to see, to reach the top shelf in a supermarket without a ladder. However, the different perception of autistic people is almost invisible from the outside, especially since autistics have usually learned to attract less attention by imitating essentially foreign behavioral patterns. Therefore, most fellow human beings react completely differently than in the case of a small person. Assistance is almost never to be expected, as the problem is not visible. Who, for example, would buy groceries for an obviously physically healthy person who states that they simply cannot manage it at that moment? Would one perhaps not act wrongly by supporting a supposed shyness instead of encouraging the person to do it themselves?

Attention: The form of this list is liable to reinforce pathologizing stereotypes. This is due to the thematic framework and does not reflect an absolute evaluation of the traits described.

Movements

When autistic people are in an environment designed by non-autistics solely according to their own predispositions, they frequently encounter many moving objects. In a natural environment, however, rapid and intertwined movements are rarely found. Grass and trees sway gently in the wind; here and there a bird flies. For autistic individuals whose nervous systems are not already heavily pre-burdened by other everyday barriers, these movements usually remain within a manageable range.

Reacting sensitively to movement even has an easily understandable purpose in natural contexts. Furthermore, the diversity of forms in nature remains within manageable limits.

This is quite different, for example, from automobile traffic on urban streets combined with flickering neon signs and various types of colorful urban designs. A single fast-moving object within the field of vision may be graspable for most autistic people. But even frequently appearing, fast-moving individual objects can lead to significant strain—all the more so in a scene with many different movements occurring simultaneously. Differing directions and speeds of movement are particularly unfavorable. These alone can cause a total collapse of perception, as these stimuli can no longer be processed in real-time.

3D Vision

Many autistic people appear to have no or a significantly reduced ability to see in three dimensions. In the case of Donna Williams, for example, this was changed through individually adapted Irlen filters (Irlen lenses), with which she reported being able to perceive her environment with much greater depth and plasticity. According to the experience of the ESH, this effect is still largely unknown, even in professional circles. Three-dimensional vision plays a crucial role in estimating distances and the size of objects. These two factors are mutually dependent. Those who struggle to estimate distance cannot precisely determine how far away an object is, and without this knowledge, it becomes equally difficult to estimate its physical dimensions.

Detail Zoom

Another effect that makes estimating object dimensions unreliable is the tendency of some autistic people to "zoom in" on details in their environment, much like the optical lens of a camcorder, through a form of "tunnel vision." This often happens unconsciously. For some autistics, for instance, it may appear as if a transit bus is significantly closer or further away than it actually is. Anyone who has ever operated such a zoom lens knows that focusing through it can cause one to completely lose sight of what is happening directly beside them.

It is suspected that this ability, which is inherently quite useful, can spin out of control in the context of chronic overstrain (permanent overload).

K.O. Patterns (Disabling Patterns)

Certain patterns, such as floor gratings, the front grilles of speaker cabinets, or the grooves on escalator steps, can temporarily render autistic people incapable of acting when their gaze falls upon them. Susceptibility to which patterns—and how many—trigger this effect varies from one autistic individual to another.

In terms of accessibility, it would be desirable to eliminate such visual arrangements from public spaces whenever the opportunity arises.

Reflections and Glare

Mirroring and reflections can be perceived as even more intensely blinding than by non-autistic people.

Brightness

For some autistic people, daylight is excessively bright and distressing. Consequently, some autistics wear sunglasses at all times. This, like many other things, should not be discouraged out of a misguided, missionary sense of social etiquette. Autistics should generally be encouraged to live out their personal style, as it often has tangible reasons more frequently than non-autistics (NAs) assume. See also: drafts and "excessively warm clothing."

Autistic individuals can often orient themselves well in levels of brightness that seem "dark" to non-autistics. It is misguided for non-autistics to impose their perception of supposedly correct brightness, thereby exposing the autistic person to light levels they perceive as too intense. For instance, autistics can sometimes still largely recognize their surroundings at a level of brightness where non-autistics can no longer see their own hand in front of their eyes. This specific light intensity may be precisely what is comfortable for the autistic person.

Artificial Light

Blinding light, such as car headlights or traffic signals, represents powerful individual stimuli. Another problem is the flicker frequency of fluorescent lamps, which is sometimes too low for autistic people. It is presumed that in a few years, these (or similar technologies) will be the only ones available.

Color Filters and Artifacts

Under stress, or sometimes for no immediately apparent reason, the visual perception of some autistic individuals can take on a strong color tint. This can cause problems, for example, where color-coded signals become unrecognizable or where text on a colored background becomes unreadable.

Similarly, artifacts can supplement visual perception. These artifacts may manifest as floating lines or drifting dots (floaters).

Synesthesia

An above-average number of autistic people are also synesthetes. This means that involuntary cross-sensory associations occur. For example, when the scent of roses is perceived, a visual impression simultaneously appears.

Synesthesia has been proven to enhance memory performance, as it makes memories more "tangible" and multi-layered.

Changes to the Familiar Environment

The overall impression of a place can change significantly for autistic people due to alterations that may seem insignificant to non-autistics. For instance, something as simple as an unusual position of the sun with unfamiliar shadows can lead to general orientation problems.

Felled trees, mown grass—all of this can hinder an autistic person's orientation. The intensity of this effect depends on the individual and their current "daily form" (the mid-term neurological pre-load or cumulative stress accumulated over the past months, which is relevant to so many factors).

Diversity of Forms and Styles

The diversity of forms found in nature remains, as previously mentioned, within manageable limits. This does not apply to industrial products. New, unknown shapes constantly appear, which at first may not even be properly grasped. This increased complexity of everyday environments complicates the systematization of spatial structures and orientation, tying up attention for the purpose of perception and categorization. Subjectively, however, some autistic individuals may find this as pleasant as a non-autistic (NA) person finds listening to the radio while working in an office. This demonstrably lowers individual concentration, although the person themselves usually does not perceive it this way (partly due to a lack of self-assessment common to all humans).

An environment with many unfamiliar objects can be confusing for autistic people. Orientation in such a setting can be particularly delayed because reference points are unknown or demand excessive attention. Such unknown objects can make familiar structures unrecognizable or harder to identify.

In a broader sense, this applies not only to the visual channel but also to all other sensory channels.

Civilization Noises

In settlements designed by non-autistic people, one typically finds a multitude of noises. Non-autistics describe their experience as one where sounds can be pleasant. Conversely, due to their disposition, they often feel fear in a soundproofed laboratory room; many flee such rooms in a panic within a short period. Therefore, it is understandable that the non-autistic majority—more or less unconsciously—establishes a certain jumble of noises in their communities as a "sound wallpaper," a sign of identity and home. To autistic people, however, this often has a completely different effect, as outlined in the introduction to this section.

Volume

Autistic people do not only perceive the stimuli around them without filters; they usually perceive them more vividly than non-autistics. Regarding sound, this means that common noise is heard even louder by autistics. In the case of speech, this also leads to the impression among non-autistics that autistic people speak too softly. However, this is due to the fact that non-autistics often have poorer hearing, and for the autistic person, it is unpleasant to speak louder. This is a phenomenon everyone recognizes when communicating with someone who is hard of hearing and not using a hearing aid.

Frequency Range

Numerous autistic people also hear sounds from frequency ranges that adult non-autistics generally can no longer perceive—such as the cries of bats, ultrasonic marten deterrents in parked cars, or the humming and buzzing of electrical components and wiring.

This can lead non-autistics to the false impression that certain autistic individuals are suffering from hallucinations, as they are clearly reacting to something the non-autistics cannot hear. Such an assumption also fits perfectly into the stereotype of the "incompetent" or "incapacitated" individual. In these cases, frequency meters from a toy store can provide clarity. Particularly non-speaking autistics can suffer from such noises, even to the point of severe self-injury when subjected to years of electrical humming from components within a room's walls.

An awareness should be established that strange reactions from autistic people always have a reason. If not this one, then another. Failing to assume this leads, in many cases, to the denial of assistance and the careless destruction of entire life paths. This results in horrendous subsequent costs for the public treasury, spent on the custodial care of the ruins of once promising existences that may never have been recognized as such. Autistic people are often wrongly considered to have an intellectual disability because they do not react in the way non-autistics know from themselves.

Odors

The section on noise applies analogously to smells and taste experiences. Irregularly occurring odors can be irritating. Many autistic people detest perfumes on other people or even on themselves.

Temperature

In everyday life, autistic people often do not have a precise sense of temperature, or they may not pay attention to it due to the abundance of other stimuli. Nevertheless, colds do not seem to be a frequent consequence. If necessary, it can be helpful to provide autistics with a thermometer. Some autistic individuals can feel as if they are sweating and freezing at the same time; perhaps the impression of a poorly developed sense of temperature stems from the fact that individual temperature sensations are not integrated as they are in non-autistics, but are instead felt separately.

When an autistic person is deeply absorbed in a task, they may not feel it if, for example, they pour boiling water over their hand, perhaps perceiving it only rationally. Temperature differences—for instance, after entering a building—can irritate autistic people and cause additional distraction for a certain period.

Air Movements

Air movements affect the sense of touch. Some autistic people are particularly sensitive to this. Subtle air movements, such as light drafts, can represent a severe sensory burden—often more severe than stronger, more continuous air movements. If an autistic person chooses to dress in a way that covers large parts of the body, it may be for this reason. Denying this to an autistic person because it is "too warm" during certain seasons can mean exposing a human being to acute suffering. Usually, this suffering is not expressed outwardly in a way recognizable to non-autistics, but it has a profound effect on the soul and can cause serious trauma. Strong winds, on the other hand, are sometimes perceived as pleasant by the same autistic individuals because they provide a pressure similar to a "squeeze machine" and thus have a relaxing effect.

Physical Contact

Many autistic people are very sensitive to spontaneous touch from others. Body parts that have been touched can be perceived as numb, "dead," or even as a burning pain for days afterward. Due to these unpleasant experiences, many autistics dislike it when people approach them too closely without waiting for consent. Whenever possible, a discreet distance should be maintained—at least equivalent to the other person's reach—as many autistics perceive this as a threatening situation based on their past experiences, especially since it is difficult for them to judge when a person might actually touch them without asking. This is, in itself, a normal human protective reaction, which non-autistics often label as "abnormal" or "exaggerated" because it does not correspond to the experience of the non-autistic majority. And this majority tends to believe that, compared to that which appears foreign, they are the "better" or "healthy" human beings and are therefore in the right.

Social Distance in Public Transport

Upon request, autistic individuals should be allowed to keep the seat next to them empty in public transport, especially when it becomes crowded. A crowded vehicle is, in itself, a high burden due to the other intensified sensory stimuli.

Repulsive Surfaces

Certain surfaces are perceived as highly repulsive by some autistic individuals, having an effect similar to visual "knockout patterns," even leading to spontaneous nausea. It is ill-advised, for example, to equip handrails or grab bars with such textures or profiles.

Uneven and Inconsistent Ground

As with all people, passing over unstructured ground requires more attention from autistic individuals. In a forest, this may not be problematic given the otherwise low level of stimuli resulting from non-autistic environmental design. In an urban setting, however, such ground can further diminish basic orientation abilities.

This does not apply to flooring that is structured in zones or provided with haptic signals; on the contrary, these can divide the space meaningfully for autistics and thus have a relieving effect.

Even flat but slightly uneven (slanted) surfaces can trigger severe irritation regarding the sense of balance in autistic people.

Fellow Human Beings as a Potential Threat

Fellow human beings, in particular, can seem threatening to autistic people due to their autonomous actions. Their behavior is often unpredictable, and the empathy non-autistics have for autistics is—due to the different nature of their own experiences—often shockingly low. Will a person try to start a conversation whose purpose remains incomprehensible? Will they, due to a lack of facial expression, even suspect that the autistic person is unwell and therefore ask even more persistently or try to "cheer them up"? "Well-intentioned" is often the opposite of "well-done"—every autistic person knows this all too well. This is not a good foundation for encounters with other people in public spaces.

Order

Autistic people are said to view ritualization positively. This is not true as a general rule; however, before autistics enter the daily "sensory hell," everything must be as clear as possible. Flexible action is hardly possible under the enormous sensory load found outside of familiar, safe, and self-controllable retreat spaces. No human being can think rationally under such heavy stress as that which autistics usually face in everyday life. Therefore, it is very important for autistic people to find reliable order in all areas of life characterized by sensory load. The purpose of this order is, in every case, to avoid having to think within the situation itself.

Processing Time

If an autistic person is asked something in a stressful situation or in a manner that is not clear to them—whether in terms of linguistic form or content—it may take a little longer for a response to arrive. This also applies, in a broader sense, to all other reactions. Those who have more in their minds must also sort through more. Restlessness in the form of gestures, repeated questioning, etc., contributes to making the situation even more difficult for the autistic person. Body language that appears "absent" to a non-autistic (NA) person should under no circumstances be interpreted as the autistic person not making an effort to provide an answer.

Unresolved Matters

Processes with delayed outcomes, where clarity is lacking, can have a severely burdening effect on autistic people. This particularly applies to administrative matters or court proceedings that drag on for many months. Autistic individuals process such events primarily serially; they strive to complete tasks quickly so they can then move on to something else. Parallel demands, where multiple processes remain unresolved and open at the same time, can place a heavy burden on autistics and lead to a state of incapacity to act. This is because unfinished, unanswered matters cannot be forgotten—unless an autistic person has been pushed so far that they have simply stopped caring about everything.

Here, accessibility requirements take on special significance. Usually, the current response to such difficulties is that the autistic person should have their affairs handled by a non-autistic person. However, the latter thinks in a completely different way and may even be less competent in the matter than the autistic person, which constitutes a severe imposition for the latter. Furthermore, from an autistic perspective, non-autistics are often temperamental and fail to understand many of the autistic person's needs.

Structural Accessibility in Administrative Processes

The resulting costs are a burden to society, yet this would be unnecessary if processing procedures were designed to be structurally accessible specifically for autistic people. This would involve prioritizing their cases and ensuring that any delays caused by unavoidable inquiries are always announced with a feedback notice and a specific deadline for a response. Great care should be taken to ensure that these guidelines are put into practice by the staff, fostering an understanding of how vital this priority is for the autonomous participation of autistic individuals in society. It is unacceptable that people who are perfectly capable of handling their own affairs fail to do so because such barriers leave them unable to cope with these highly adverse conditions. It is equally unacceptable that autistic people waive many of their rights, or forgo seeking justice for wrongs they have suffered, because the barriers to the legal system and authorities are too high to be endured neurologically.

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