RHS Autism PROJECT
Sensory Balance
Encouraging healthy lives for autistic people by promoting working with nature.
Thank you Christine Lange, Autistic Artist for designing our website logo and helping at the show.
“Thank you for submitting an application to design a Long Border for RHS Chatsworth Flower Show 2019. The Selection Panel were impressed with your application and I am delighted to confirm that your border ‘Sensory Balance’ has been accepted for the show.”
The 2019 RHS Chatsworth Flower Show Long Border Design is inspired by autistic family and friends, to improve understanding of sensory differences and promote nature careers for autistic people.
Visitors to the display are invited to find their own ‘sensory balance’ by interacting with the plants and combining senses.
Research indicates that around 90% of diagnosed Autistic people also have sensory differences. The National Autistic Society explains how over or under stimulated senses causes anxiety, altering perception. Interactions with nature, repetition, structure and a multi-sensory approach can help.
Well structured and diverse planting schemes can have a helpful multi-sensory function when offered as choice. Everyone needs to have sensory balance to go about their daily lives, and for autistic people who don’t innately have this, plants can offer timely opportunities for people seeking to offset the stress of their other senses by balancing it out with another sense. Some people need more of one particular sense that they mainly use to make sense of other information, and to orientate themselves in busy surroundings.
We want designers to be more aware of the range of sensory environments they create especially when designing public landscapes. Greening our public spaces is vital for improving the environment and increasing biodiversity has a real value to Health, Jobs and the Economy.
A big issue for autistic people is suicide and loneliness which is no surprise as the employment gaps for this group are really shocking. In the UK only 16% of autistic people are employed full time compared to other groups. Part time rates are also poor. Interactions with nature that are less stressful and having a job or doing volunteering are very important to avoid feeling isolated.
We’re keen to hear from anyone who wants to contribute to this website which offers basic information about careers working with nature for autistic people, their educators and employers.
We are grateful to the University of Sheffield and to the Royal Horticultural Society for part funding the planting display and production of careers information material to share online and at the show day.
RHS Chatsworth Flower Show 2019
Illustration of the Sensory Balance Border
Co-design by D.Carslon & N.Stevens
“Thank you so much for making this display. It is the first time I have been able to come to an event like this and enjoy it. It’s so great to see something made just for people like me. ”
Key Contributors
Thank you for helping to make this website possible.
Department of Landscape Architecture
The University of Sheffield
Chatsworth Flower Show 2019
The Royal Horticultural Society
