If this doesn't exist, it would be a "nice to have"

[knackeredcat]

Inspired by the thread in AIBU re. children making noise and running around in higher end restaurants. The nature of my neurodiversity means misophonia and sensory overload are major issues for me so I wouldn't be able to cope and have to leave, likely already hypervigilant of such a situation in the first place and to avert a meltdown on my part. (This is why I'm not a mother and practically a hermit!)

In an ideal world I'd love to see a website and/or app that lists places as ND friendly, even if only at certain times. Not just restaurants as I know some supermarkets and shops have trialled times for ND people. Is this still going on? (I don't know as I tend to have groceries delivered.)

Thinking also events, public spaces, museums, galleries, etc. All listed somewhere and specifying what they offer ND people - e.g. provision of quiet spaces, sensory days, etc.

If I knew where to start in how to collate the information and set it up myself I'd have a good go at it 😃

It's a nice idea but it would get complicated- for some of us ND friendly means keeping the place free of noisy children, but for others ND friendly means allowing people to make more noise than would usually be tolerated.

As a start for your list, Glasgow Film Theatre offer (or at least they used to) autism-friendly screenings of some films. The auditorium lights were left on low rather than it being completely dark; the volume of the film was a bit lower than usual and people were welcome to move around the aisles during the film.

I agree with @Bergamotte

In principle, a good idea, but we are all so different it would be an impossible list to make and maintain.

Just thinking about embarking on the task of making a list of ND friendly places fills me with panic 😬😬😬

I agree it is a nice idea but also agree that in practice it would not work
i am VERY intolerant of noise I just cannot cope but I am also usually the noisiest person in the room (I get the irony in that)
A room full of people like me would be unbearable really

Thanks for sharing, everyone. I suppose it was just a pipe dream. That's the nature of my ADHD - grand ideas that are usually going to be difficult or impossible to turn into reality.

@Bergamotte - good to know Glasgow Film Theatre has some provision in place so there is hope 😊

I wish it existed as well.

I also wish that places would do different kinds of events labelled as autism-friendly. I’d love cinema / theatre showings with the sensory aspects dialled down but with strict adherence to rules - NO talking / singing along, NO moving around during the performance and NO noisy / smelly food.

That doesn’t exist, sadly, Autism friendly just seems to mean increased tolerance for noise and movement…

You could still do this but instead of only a list, have different options. For example, cinema A might get ticks for being quiet with strict no eating but cinema B will get ticks for allowing movement and making noise.

Since people on the spectrum all have different needs, it would be very helpful to be able to tell what events are suitable for what people. I’m on the quiet aspergers side of things and I’ve never gone to any autism related events because I feel like I probably wouldn’t have anything in common with other attendees or that they might annoy me more than I’m used to with neurotypical people. I kind of hate that we all get lumped together under such a broad label.

Those ND friendly store times are the times I often take my DS, who is not quiet, because he can cope much better. Which I imagine is possibly even worse for other ND shoppers but it's a bit of a catch 22 isn't it. We all have a right to be there.

We go to the autism showings at Vue cinema. We went today actually.
My DS loves the cinema but hates that it goes dark and that its loud. The lights are just dimmed, there are no adverts and the sound is a lot lower at these showings.
My DS is usually the only one there so he watches the film lay on the floor at the front, with his Teddy 😆

That’s why I don’t go at those times - but I don’t know what the answer is. Your son is absolutely entitled to be there, but noisy behaviour means it’s not accessible for me.