Guidance for Professionals

Autism Informed Services

eBook intended to be an informed level professional learning resource for all NHS professionals working in adult services or with adults. (Publisher: Inspiring Scotland; Scottish Government)

Autismity - The Autism Simulator

The Autismity immersive provides a perspective of a neurodivergent person's daily interactions with their environment. Through a virtual reality (VR) headset, users experience how sounds, lights, patterns, and disturbing elements affect autistic individuals, with simulations lasting approximately 2 minutes each. It serves as a powerful tool for raising awareness and understanding the importance of designing spaces that are inclusive for both neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals. While these simulations cannot fully replicate the diverse ways autism affects individuals, they provide insight into sensory processing differences that influence how autistic people interact with built environments.

The available demos (no VR headset needed) illustrate common scenarios such as:

  • Navigating a busy café environment

  • Waiting for public transport

  • Managing competing sensory inputs in everyday spaces

The Autism Simulator is designed for educational institutions, organisations, medical and therapeutic professionals, companies, family members, or simply anyone who wants to understand autism.

Guidance for the Media

Guidance for journalists and producers on interviewing autistic people and reporting on autism:

Independent Advocacy for Service Providers

The guide created by the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) provides an overview aimed at service providers to help them understand the role, principles, and distinctive features of independent advocacy in Scotland.