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Housing and noise regulations for people with autism, can the NAS please respond?

Hope

Flats are often noisy, whereas houses are more likely to be quiet. Having grown up in a house along a very quiet residential road, I have always taken quietude at night for granted. I think I have inherited sensitive hearing from my mum, although she is not on the spectrum. As a family, we are introverted, and like an undisturbed night of sleep. I have grown up with fairly quiet neighbours, but sound insulation is good at my parent's home, even when we used to live in an ex council house. Night time noise has never been an issue before, but it is for me now, at my flat.

I think I am more sensitive to noise than so called 'normal' people because of my genetics, ie aspergers. Surely Councils should take our needs into consideration? Why can't they build special autism housing, that is to say, detatched houses in really quiet locations, with no traffic passing through? I wish. More realistically, what are my rights in this situation? What can I do?

Parents

  • Thank you all for your kind words. It helps me immensely just knowing that there are people like you who do understand, and this forum is a good place for me to get things off my chest, which also helps me psychologically.

    Happydays: The Autism Act is a good piece of legislation, but I wonder how much teeth it has? I know that the Act is supposed to make the public sector aware of the needs of people with autism/aspergers, but I don't know how I could benefit from it?

    stranger: many social workers are kind people, but I wonder how many truly understand AS? My CPN is a lovely person, and is more understanding than most, but I don't think she really gets my sensitivity problems. I have similar problems because the noise is worst after 11pm. I can hear doors slamming, heavy footsteps, furniture being moved around, even taps being turned on!

    Crystal12: My CPN suggested noise meters, but told me that the noise has to be quite loud in decibel terms in order for it to be classed a nuisance. No allowances are made, it seems, for people with a lower sound threshold, who cannot block out sounds at a lower level. I have contacted my Housing Association by email, and they seem to be taking it seriously. I will get a full reply this week, so there is some hope. I really don't want to move because I only moved in 6 months ago, and change is very stressful. Also, the flat itself is lovely in terms of layout and space, with its own private front door. The noise is the only issue, bit it is a big one. I will certainly be looking into sound insulation, but as it is a Housing Association property (social sector), I don't know whether this can be done.

    autismtwo: Because sound sensitivity is a disability in its own right, this should be taken into consideration. It should not be dismissed, so I agree.

    stranger: I could certainly do with reasonable adjustments, like sound insulation, thicker windows etc.

     

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  • Thank you all for your kind words. It helps me immensely just knowing that there are people like you who do understand, and this forum is a good place for me to get things off my chest, which also helps me psychologically.

    Happydays: The Autism Act is a good piece of legislation, but I wonder how much teeth it has? I know that the Act is supposed to make the public sector aware of the needs of people with autism/aspergers, but I don't know how I could benefit from it?

    stranger: many social workers are kind people, but I wonder how many truly understand AS? My CPN is a lovely person, and is more understanding than most, but I don't think she really gets my sensitivity problems. I have similar problems because the noise is worst after 11pm. I can hear doors slamming, heavy footsteps, furniture being moved around, even taps being turned on!

    Crystal12: My CPN suggested noise meters, but told me that the noise has to be quite loud in decibel terms in order for it to be classed a nuisance. No allowances are made, it seems, for people with a lower sound threshold, who cannot block out sounds at a lower level. I have contacted my Housing Association by email, and they seem to be taking it seriously. I will get a full reply this week, so there is some hope. I really don't want to move because I only moved in 6 months ago, and change is very stressful. Also, the flat itself is lovely in terms of layout and space, with its own private front door. The noise is the only issue, bit it is a big one. I will certainly be looking into sound insulation, but as it is a Housing Association property (social sector), I don't know whether this can be done.

    autismtwo: Because sound sensitivity is a disability in its own right, this should be taken into consideration. It should not be dismissed, so I agree.

    stranger: I could certainly do with reasonable adjustments, like sound insulation, thicker windows etc.

     

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