Autism Reality Experience

Expanding into autism awareness and education in the United States, we would like to share with you a new simulation of autism designed to be more fully immersive than viewing a film or virtual reality. The Autism Reality Experience, originally developed in the United Kingdom, is now offered in the U.S. through Second Wind Dreams. This training is designed to give participants a sense of what it is like to live with autism.

The Autism Reality Experience

According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Many adults with an autism spectrum disorder have not been diagnosed, or have received a diagnosis later in life. As more accurate diagnostic tools have become available, these statistics are steadily increasing. With so
much of our population living with autism, the need to adjust our practices to become more autism-friendly is essential.

The Autism Reality Experience is a simulation of what it is like to have autism with the goal of increasing empathy, and understanding, and helping participants identify individual and systemic changes that will make customer/client service more navigable for people living with an autism spectrum disorder.

Outcomes for Participants:

• Immersive, personal experience during the simulation results in a deeper understanding of what it’s like to live with autism spectrum disorder.
• In-depth debrief session educates about autism and the implications for adults living on the spectrum in areas like education, employment, commerce/customer service, or opportunities for safe interactions in public places.
• Greater empathy enables us to come up with approaches and supports that improve the lives of those on the spectrum where they live, work, or engage
  with the world.
• Experiential model is more successful with adult learners.

Benefits for Organizations:

• Important awareness builder and training tool for staff
• Informs inclusive DEI strategies, initiatives and policies for employers
• Inspires new ideas for product/service/program revenues, staff or student
  recruiting and retention, research, and more
• Boosts your reputation as a socially responsible, autism-aware and inclusive
  organization