Autism Reality Experience Bus: Empowering Home Instead to Support Clients Living with Autism

The Autism Reality Experience Bus is hired as a mobile training tool to increase awareness and knowledge of autism in the community.

Autism is a lifelong neurological disorder which can present itself differently in each person. It affects how people communicate, interact with others, behave and learn. Autism is known as a spectrum disorder because there is a wide variation in the type of symptoms people experience.

An Innovative Training Tool in the Care Industry

With the growing understanding of autism in recent years, efforts have been increased to provide high-quality care for people of all ages on the spectrum. One of the best innovative tools for training individuals on how to care for and communicate with autistic people is the Training2Care Autism Reality Experience Bus. This bus is a mobile sensory experience which allows the individual taking part in the training to feel what it is like to live with autism. The immersive experience is designed for the user to foster empathy and understanding of the challenges that autistic individuals face.

The training, which is approved by the NHS, features a sensory overload simulation that recreates everyday experiences for people with autism. The bus is paid for and hired by Home Instead Exeter and East Devon and gets booked to travel down to our local area. Our office staff and Care Professionals are invited on the bus along with local healthcare professionals and key stakeholders to increase awareness and knowledge of autism in the community.

The mobile unit is fitted with technology to provide bright lights, sounds and smells to mimic the hypersensitivity that autistic individuals may experience. The users also wear special gloves and glasses to distort their vision and touch senses.

When paired with Home Instead’s person-centred approach to care, this initiative provides a unique opportunity to enhance the support given to autistic clients by giving Care Professionals a first-hand insight into the challenges that they face in their daily lives, giving them a deeper sense of empathy and understanding.

A New Standard in Autism Care

Thanks to this training, Home Instead Care Professionals are able to offer respite for families, providing peace of mind that their loved ones are receiving specialised, compassionate care, in their own homes. Our partnership with Training 2 Care represents an ongoing commitment to raising the standards of care for autistic individuals.

If you are looking for care for yourself or a loved one, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01395 200600 or email us at [email protected]