A review of issues around autism and auditory accessibility in buildings

The authors have been working with an international group of researchers to raise awareness on autism and auditory accessibility in buildings. One outcome of that group’s work is the preparation of a review paper on the topic. This presentation will present an overview of the content included in that review, addressing a wide range of subjects including foundational questions (e.g., “What is autism today?” and “How to research autism?”), context questions (e.g., “How do buildings impact autism?”, “How does sound affect autism?”), as well acknowledging existing challenges with standards, metrics, and barriers to accessibility. Finally, suggestions on how to move forward in this field, including principles of universal design, are provided.