Sensory spaces on wheels: Meeting neurodiverse community members where they are

As neurodiversity inclusion movements spread, the stigma associated with autism has diminished. People who support these movements challenge the notion of autism and neurodiversity as something that needs to be eliminated or cured, and hold that being neurodiverse is something to be acknowledged and celebrated (Kapp et al., 2013). As a result, it is increasingly commonplace for neurodiverse children and adults to participate in both special and everyday community events (Kong et al., 2017; McGlynn & Kelly, 2017; Sakagami & Ohta, 2010). Although increased social participation is something occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) champion, neurodiverse people often experience barriers to participation, including sensory sensitivities, communication difficulties, and social differences. Because staff and volunteers from many organizations do not have the benefit of education or training, they must use best guesses, information from others, and trial and error to support the needs of neurodiverse people. As OTPs and students, we can support community collaborators by offering evidence-based portable sensory spaces for special events.