Understanding the Effects of the Built Environment on Autistic Adults

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

About the autistic author marker

Noble, B. & Isaacs, N. (2023). Understanding the Effects of the Built Environment on Autistic Adults. In Mixed Methods Research Design for the Built Environment (pp. 85-97). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003204046-7

Publication date: 24 Oct 2023 Added to AutiHub: 29 Aug 2026 Type: Book chapter Article language: English

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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)

Abstract

Differences in sensory processing among people on the autism spectrum remain prevalent but limited empirical research has considered how they experience the built environment. Despite extensive research into the differences in sensory processing in autistic people and extensive research into the effects of the indoor environment on the general population, there is limited systematic research that bridges these two areas. In this chapter, the findings from an explanatory sequential mixed method study which investigated how autistic and neuro-typical people experienced the built environment, and how they respond to various aspects of the built environment Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) factors, such as electric lighting, acoustics, and thermal comfort was reported. The chapter’s findings highlight several areas of interest, including the design of electric lighting in specific environments, such as medical waiting rooms, for comfort for all users, and the physical and emotional reactions that autistic people have to electric lighting.

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