PEOPLE affected by autism are calling for restaurants, supermarkets and leisure centres to become more accessible to people with autism.
In an online survey, in which people were asked to vote for the public spaces they would most like to see become more accessible for those affected by autism, restaurants came out on top with 32% making it their preferred choice.
Supermarkets received 27% of the vote followed by leisure centres (17%), shops (10%), theatres (9%), events such as fireworks displays or sporting events (4%) and banks with 1% of the vote.
Lisa Hopkins, autism lead at Dimensions, the charity that carried out the curvey, said: “Accessibility is not just about wheelchairs and ramps. This is clearly something people feel passionately about.”
Many contributors also called for extra training for all staff working with the public.
Dimensions has been championing autism-friendly environments which has led to the launch of their ‘Autism Friendly Films’ partnership with ODEON.
More than 16,000 people have already watched newly released films on the big screen in an environment more conducive with their needs.
For many, these special screenings are their first positive cinema experience, something which due to their autism had not seemed possible before.
www.dimensions-uk.org
