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.

Continue reading “Exploring the City Through Neurodivergent Sensory Experiences”

Creative Methods: Autistic Researchers and Research Participants

Sentio Journal Header

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.

Continue reading “Creative Methods: Autistic Researchers and Research Participants”

Microstories with Fabrizio Paterlini

Fabrizio Paterlini - Piano Microstories Publication

Microstories publication with composer Fabrizio Paterlini

‘Internationally acclaimed Italian pianist and composer Fabrizio Paterlini creates melancholic musical compositions, predominantly working in the vernacular of Neo-classical or minimalism. His unique sounds are both visceral, emotive and indeed offer a complexity which is sometimes regarded as ethereal.’ – Microstories

Continue reading “Microstories with Fabrizio Paterlini”

Living Photography

Jane Elizabeth Bennett 'Location Adrift' Digital Dark Room Living Photography, Living Photography

Living Photography. What does the word living mean to you?

Living Photography is to be in a constant state of change. To be in motion. Nothing that is living is ever truly still. We breathe, our hearts beat, we move from place to place. Nothing alive is ever truly still. These images are taken in transition, moving between places and states of mind.

Living Photography opens on Wednesday 4th December at the Brunswick Leeds.

Digital Darkroom Print, Living Photography
‘Location Adrift’

Continue reading “Living Photography”

Fabrizio Paterlini’s Microstories

Fabrizio Paterlini - Piano Microstories Publication

Fabrizio Paterlini – Piano Microstories Publication

I am so pleased to announce that I have been selected for Fabrizio Paterlini’s latest publication ‘Piano Microstories’.

‘Internationally acclaimed Italian pianist and composer Fabrizio Paterlini creates melancholic musical compositions, predominantly working in the vernacular of Neo-classical or minimalism. His unique sounds are both visceral, emotive and indeed offer a complexity which is sometimes regarded as ethereal.

Paterlini’s most recent project emphasizes the notion of the current moment stating, ‘How many emotions can you feel in one minute?’.

The publication aims to be a multidisciplinary piece of art that combines photography and poetry in response to Paterlini’s one minute piano scores.’ – Gemma Land and Ravinder Surah

Continue reading “Fabrizio Paterlini’s Microstories”