Fear of the unknown is real. Most of us have felt it at some point in our lives. That not knowing can be debilitating at the best of times. For autistic people, that fear can be multiplied by an infinite amount. 

Fear of the unknown is real. Most of us have felt it at some point in our lives. That not knowing can be debilitating at the best of times. For autistic people, that fear can be multiplied by an infinite amount. 

Out in the world, we have to deal with sensory issues such as sudden noise, strange or fast changing lighting, and the kryptonite of those who live on the spectrum, crowds. It can make a trip somewhere like a museum or art gallery nigh on impossible to navigate without anxiety, forethought and a massive amount of planning. Not knowing if a piece of art will precipitate a meltdown for either yourself or pupils will affect how accessible an exhibition is, and the arts should be accessible to all.

This is where a virtual tour with iRoam would pay dividends. 

Imagine being able to access the space in a virtual way, ahead of time, in conjunction with an arts venue. The possibilities would be endless. Need to have a change of light? That can be arranged. An exhibit that used a flickering television would be unbearable to many, but either it could be switched off for your visit, or the virtual tour could give you the option of viewing it differently.

The same with noise. It is not just sudden loud noises that cause issues to autistic people, often it will be something high pitched, at a low rumble or intermittent with no discernible pattern that makes an environment uncomfortable. A virtual tour would eliminate the instances of this occurring and most importantly, enable people to access art and history in a way that they can actually enjoy. 

This is a big issue with disability access. If people are not able to be equally relaxed and comfortable while immersing themselves in the arts, there has been a failure in providing that access. 

Being able to plan properly and where necessary, attending through virtual reality is key in opening spaces for disabled people. Especially those with sensory issues. Virtual tours with iRoam are a great place to start. Email us anytime infor@iroamtours.co.uk