Exploring the City Through Neurodivergent Sensory Experiences

I presented my first co-authored systematic review at the 5th International Congress of City Ambiences in Lisbon. The paper will be published in full towards the end of 2024, but I wanted to publish an accessible introduction here first!

This blog is interspersed with my own photography of Manchester, taken whilst walking and exploring with my co-author, Dr Carolina Vasilikou.

When we walk through a city—whether it’s commuting to work, attending classes, or meeting friends—walking becomes more than just a mode of transport; it’s a daily rhythm that connects us to our surroundings. However, for neurodivergent individuals, whose sensory experiences can differ from the typical, this act of moving through urban spaces can be more complex.

Ambience 2024, Bridge

While there’s increasing awareness around designing indoor environments to support neurodivergent needs, outdoor urban spaces have received less attention. A 2023 report from Autistica highlighted how neurodivergent needs are often overlooked, and urban design standards still lack guidelines for accommodating sensory sensitivities. We know that sensory differences are a key part of neurodiverse experiences, so we’re shifting the focus: rather than asking why neurodivergent sensory experiences are different, we want to understand how these experiences interact with the urban environment.

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4th December 20248th December 2024

ICCC Winter Research Symposium

Reflecting on the ICCC Winter Research Symposium and the 5th International Congress Lisbon

I am delighted to have recently presented my paper, Exploring the City Through Neurodivergent Sensory Experiences, at the Institute of Creativity, Communities and Culture (ICCC) Winter Research Symposium. This presentation built on the momentum of sharing the same research at the 5th International Congress in Lisbon this past October. Presenting at two such vibrant academic gatherings has been a rewarding experience.

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7th November 20237th November 2024

Creative Methods: Autistic Researchers and Research Participants

Auto-photography and Collaborative Drawing: How Can Autistic Researchers Foster Inclusion Through Method Selection and Development to Investigate the Design of the Built Environment?

In this journal article for Sentio, I dive into how selecting and developing inclusive research methods can open doors for autistic researchers and participants, creating richer, more accessible forms of engagement. Traditional qualitative methods, like interviews, often rely on verbal communication and reading subtle cues, which can create barriers for autistic individuals. Autism is commonly described as a communication disorder, but the full picture is more complex: neurotypicals (those, who are not neurodivergent or autistic) and autistic people often struggle to fully understand each other, a phenomenon known as the “double empathy problem.” This issue arises because neurotypical people don’t always interpret autistic communication accurately, and vice versa, leading to misunderstandings.

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29th June 20238th November 2024

An Autistic Auto-Ethnographic Walk

I’m so pleased to announce that my film ‘An Autistic Auto-Ethnographic Walk’ has won the ‘Research Film’ award at the University of Reading’s Doctoral Conference.

This film is an auto-ethnographic walk, meaning that it is my perspective. This film highlights the lack of high-quality research regarding the authentic female autistic experience. I hope this silent film goes some way to explain the importance of asking ‘how do autistic women appropriate public space?’

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5th May 202216th December 2022

CPRA Grant

I’m so pleased to have been awarded a grant by the University of Central Lancashire’s research group, CPRA, The Creative Practice Research Academy.

I will produce a body of work comprising screen prints and artist books. These will explore the impact of heightened sensory processing on women’s identity and how this affects their access to, and emersion in, the public sphere.

My work is visual elicitation, sparking conversations around dis/ability, public access, and gender. I am currently initiating conversations with autistic women on their experiences of ‘otherness’ in social spaces via my social media platforms. This discourse is informing and directs the aesthetics of the prints as well as the direction of the project. By utilising social media, I am opening the discourse to a wider audience. Posing open questions on the accessibility and the role of visual language in research.

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Jane Elizabeth Bennett

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