May 22 2024Thomas Jefferson University Most people with autism experience unique sensory features such as differences in reactivity to touch, sounds, and sights or difficulty managing multiple sensory inputs at the same time.
These sensory differences can make the healthcare environment -; often characterized by fluorescent lights, idle waiting rooms and uncomfortable pokes and prods -; difficult to navigate, preventing children with autism from getting the care they need. To change that, occupational therapists Roseann Schaaf, PhD, and Lady Rios-Vega, OTD, are working with Dr. J.
Using the creative problem-solving framework of design thinking, Drs. Rios-Vega, Fields and Schaaf analyzed healthcare environments and met with parents of autistic children, healthcare professionals and designers to collaboratively brainstorm how the experience could be improved. They emerged with new ways to make healthcare environments more friendly for autistic children with sensory differences. One is to include a "sensory adaptive environment," an area near the waiting room with varied sensory zones, with features like rocking chairs and activities for children who need more sensory stimulation and features like bean bags and weighted blankets for children who need to relax. Drs.
This project is one step closer to helping children with autism participate in healthcare more comfortably, more successfully." As a continuing collaboration with the Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence, the researchers are also working on studies focusing on the barriers to service access for Black, Hispanic, and Latino autistic children and their families, engagement of minoritized communities in research and culturally sensitive interventions. Journal reference:Rios-Vega, L., et al. .