Autism Show?

That looks a good event electra!

Well, my report back on The Autism Show London:

I did get a lot out of it.  Saw a few really good talks (though I didn't get to as many as I'd liked to have).  Learnt some stuff about myself.  Met some nice people (first autistic event I've been to, and some of the late-diagnosed adults I talked to were like members of my family. My family don't always get on so that's not all good, but it does confirm some stuff for me!).  Also got myself some nice sensory toys.

However it was not well set-up for Autistic people. To be fair, I did talk to a family on the way out who were all on the spectrum, and mum said it was not as bad as she'd expected, and her kids seemed fine and happy.  So it may be partly that I'm going through a stage were I'm becoming very aware of my sensory sensitivities.  I've been to events at Excel and not felt so badly effected (though looking back I always needed to escape a few times a day!).  The halls at Excel are huge and full of echoes.  At this event they had 3 different talk areas, the sensory classroom (with some wierd noises), several noisy sensory play stalls and airconditioning etc.  None of that noise was contained in the relevant areas.

Two of the talk areas were open to the hall.  Apparently they'd 'improved' these from last year by providing headphones. Unfortunately they'd chosen ones which didn't have pads, but pegs to stick in your ear. They were wiped with a cleaning fluid between uses (but having alergies to some cleaning stuff I still wasn't too keen). Also they hung from the pegs rather than having a headband, which was very uncomfortable (I held mine up the whole time to keep the weight off). The seating was benches with cushions stuck to them, which seemed great until the people next to me sat unevenly and I ended up half on and half off a cushion: in my experience a lot of folks don't notice stuff like that, but it makes me very uncomfortable. In the main talks section the seats were stuck together with clips that dug into my legs painfully (I unclipped them...)

The sensory room was great and had a great atmosphere.  Cushions to chill out on, things to feel and interactive displays.  The quiet room was less sucessful.  You had to ask to be let in via the organisers office.  When I got in I found a group chatting and laughing on the two comfy beenbags and the 'soft' chairs available were actually impossible to relax in.  I finally asked if the chat was really nescesary and they soon left.  I then got to chill on a beenbag and look a pretty patterns projected on the wall.  At which point I became aware that I could still hear noise from the main hall coming through cracks round a (locked) door.  When I went back there was no-one in the organisers office, it was locked, so I had to find another way out that ended me outside the show...  Actually at the back of the hall you could acess a lift up to an upstairs corridor (with loos up there).  The corridor had a window looking down on the hall.  Better for chilling than the quiet room I think!

I didn't try the sensory classroom.  They had a 'sample' outside: a box which you put your head in which distorted sound. I guess I was getting a double dose and it freaked me out!  I was sort of glad to miss being early enough to sign up for the full classroom experience: part of me would have liked to see what they did, but I'm not sure I would have lasted a full session.

I did go both days.  Only half days each though: 1st day due to my poor organisation, second I think it was some part of me doing what was wise... It was a shame, because I did miss a lot of good talks, but I'm not sure I'd have enjoyed longer in that atmosphere!

If they used Excel again, and they want to cater more for autistic people then I think they need to partition off the noise-producing areas including roofing them (the hall ceiling is several stories high, so noise travels over the top of partitions and echoes around).  The sensory room was roofed, and I think it made a big difference.

They also need to be more clear which talks are by/for autistic people.  There was a talk called 'living with autism' by a tv presenter which sounded great... untill I read she had an autistic child.  I didn't go, because it annoyed me that that title was for a talk that appeared to be by someone who wasn't autistic themselves.  Maybe she is, in which case sorry to her, but it should have been made clear.  They did have talks by autistic people (The girl with the curly hair was really good).

I think I upset the woman from autism dogs by pulling her up for saying people who are face blind see faces as blurs (to me that sounds like I walk round in a world with censorship blurs over all the faces: clearly not true!).  Still think it was not a good description, but sorry if I upset her, and she's doing great work! (As a qualified pet behaviorist it was very interesting to learn about the training they give the dogs).  And I think the point about autistic people being put off looking at faces by the amount of whites of eyes on show is interesting: certainly in most animals seeing the whites is not a good thing, so I think there could be truth in that!

Most of the stalls were for services for children.  Though there were some interesting ones which were for adults/both (eg bookstore).  I think there majority of attendees were professionals and parents, but there were a fair few autistics too.  Friday was a bit quieter than Saturday.  Travelling by Dockland Light Railway I enjoy: the train has windows at the front so if you sit there it's a bit like a junior roller coaster.

Rambling now...

Just a last point on venue: I was thinking it might work much better for autistic people if they held in in marquees in a park?  My preference would be Kew Gardens: a brilliant venue!  I know they do hold events (and I've been to one where the entrance was less than a Kew Gardens ticket), though I don't know if they'd allow marquees.  I suppose the lawns would have to be protected with flooring like they use when they have events at Wembly stadium...

That looks a good event electra!

Well, my report back on The Autism Show London:

I did get a lot out of it.  Saw a few really good talks (though I didn't get to as many as I'd liked to have).  Learnt some stuff about myself.  Met some nice people (first autistic event I've been to, and some of the late-diagnosed adults I talked to were like members of my family. My family don't always get on so that's not all good, but it does confirm some stuff for me!).  Also got myself some nice sensory toys.

However it was not well set-up for Autistic people. To be fair, I did talk to a family on the way out who were all on the spectrum, and mum said it was not as bad as she'd expected, and her kids seemed fine and happy.  So it may be partly that I'm going through a stage were I'm becoming very aware of my sensory sensitivities.  I've been to events at Excel and not felt so badly effected (though looking back I always needed to escape a few times a day!).  The halls at Excel are huge and full of echoes.  At this event they had 3 different talk areas, the sensory classroom (with some wierd noises), several noisy sensory play stalls and airconditioning etc.  None of that noise was contained in the relevant areas.

Two of the talk areas were open to the hall.  Apparently they'd 'improved' these from last year by providing headphones. Unfortunately they'd chosen ones which didn't have pads, but pegs to stick in your ear. They were wiped with a cleaning fluid between uses (but having alergies to some cleaning stuff I still wasn't too keen). Also they hung from the pegs rather than having a headband, which was very uncomfortable (I held mine up the whole time to keep the weight off). The seating was benches with cushions stuck to them, which seemed great until the people next to me sat unevenly and I ended up half on and half off a cushion: in my experience a lot of folks don't notice stuff like that, but it makes me very uncomfortable. In the main talks section the seats were stuck together with clips that dug into my legs painfully (I unclipped them...)

The sensory room was great and had a great atmosphere.  Cushions to chill out on, things to feel and interactive displays.  The quiet room was less sucessful.  You had to ask to be let in via the organisers office.  When I got in I found a group chatting and laughing on the two comfy beenbags and the 'soft' chairs available were actually impossible to relax in.  I finally asked if the chat was really nescesary and they soon left.  I then got to chill on a beenbag and look a pretty patterns projected on the wall.  At which point I became aware that I could still hear noise from the main hall coming through cracks round a (locked) door.  When I went back there was no-one in the organisers office, it was locked, so I had to find another way out that ended me outside the show...  Actually at the back of the hall you could acess a lift up to an upstairs corridor (with loos up there).  The corridor had a window looking down on the hall.  Better for chilling than the quiet room I think!

I didn't try the sensory classroom.  They had a 'sample' outside: a box which you put your head in which distorted sound. I guess I was getting a double dose and it freaked me out!  I was sort of glad to miss being early enough to sign up for the full classroom experience: part of me would have liked to see what they did, but I'm not sure I would have lasted a full session.

I did go both days.  Only half days each though: 1st day due to my poor organisation, second I think it was some part of me doing what was wise... It was a shame, because I did miss a lot of good talks, but I'm not sure I'd have enjoyed longer in that atmosphere!

If they used Excel again, and they want to cater more for autistic people then I think they need to partition off the noise-producing areas including roofing them (the hall ceiling is several stories high, so noise travels over the top of partitions and echoes around).  The sensory room was roofed, and I think it made a big difference.

They also need to be more clear which talks are by/for autistic people.  There was a talk called 'living with autism' by a tv presenter which sounded great... untill I read she had an autistic child.  I didn't go, because it annoyed me that that title was for a talk that appeared to be by someone who wasn't autistic themselves.  Maybe she is, in which case sorry to her, but it should have been made clear.  They did have talks by autistic people (The girl with the curly hair was really good).

I think I upset the woman from autism dogs by pulling her up for saying people who are face blind see faces as blurs (to me that sounds like I walk round in a world with censorship blurs over all the faces: clearly not true!).  Still think it was not a good description, but sorry if I upset her, and she's doing great work! (As a qualified pet behaviorist it was very interesting to learn about the training they give the dogs).  And I think the point about autistic people being put off looking at faces by the amount of whites of eyes on show is interesting: certainly in most animals seeing the whites is not a good thing, so I think there could be truth in that!

Most of the stalls were for services for children.  Though there were some interesting ones which were for adults/both (eg bookstore).  I think there majority of attendees were professionals and parents, but there were a fair few autistics too.  Friday was a bit quieter than Saturday.  Travelling by Dockland Light Railway I enjoy: the train has windows at the front so if you sit there it's a bit like a junior roller coaster.

Rambling now...

Just a last point on venue: I was thinking it might work much better for autistic people if they held in in marquees in a park?  My preference would be Kew Gardens: a brilliant venue!  I know they do hold events (and I've been to one where the entrance was less than a Kew Gardens ticket), though I don't know if they'd allow marquees.  I suppose the lawns would have to be protected with flooring like they use when they have events at Wembly stadium...