Fact Sheet 2: Benefits of Interactive Tours for Neurodiverse People
1. Sensory-Friendly Exploration
Neurodiverse people often require a safe and controlled environment for journeying and destination planning. Interactive tours offer a sensory-friendly way to explore new places in advance, allowing people to adjust settings to minimise sensory overload* whilst helping to prepare themselves for the visit to the physical location. By controlling and highlighting factors such as lighting and sound, interactive tours create a comfortable environment for journey planning and exploration.
2. Predictable Environment
Interactive tours provide a predictable setting for journeying and destination planning, which is essential for many neurodiverse people. With clear navigation and consistent layouts, interactive tours reduce uncertainty and anxiety, enabling people to plan their journeys at a pace and in a location that feels comfortable for them. This predictability supports engagement and enjoyment throughout the tour experience and has been demonstrated to deliver more visitors to the physical location.
3. Safe Learning Opportunity
Journeying and destination planning in a safe environment is critical for neurodiverse people to learn and explore effectively. Interactive tours offer a risk-free platform for people to learn about different locations without the pressure of being physically present. This safe learning opportunity allows people to explore at their own pace and build confidence in their journey planning skills.
4. Social Interaction Practice
For neurodiverse people, journeying and destination planning can also involve social interaction. Interactive tours provide opportunities for social engagement in a controlled setting, allowing people to practice communication skills and build social confidence. By interacting with tour guides or other virtual visitors, people can develop valuable social skills in a supportive environment.
5. Empowering Independence
Interactive tours empower neurodiverse people to journey and plan destinations independently. By providing virtual access to locations in a safe and controlled environment, interactive tours enable people to explore the world on their own terms. This empowerment fosters independence and autonomy, promoting inclusion and equality for all.
* Sensory overload is a term used to describe when someone experiences too much sensory stimulation, making them feel overwhelmed or distressed. According to the National Autistic Society, sensory overload can occur when individuals are unable to filter out the unnecessary information they receive from their senses. This can lead to difficulties in processing and responding to sensory input, resulting in feelings of anxiety, discomfort, or agitation.
The NHS also defines sensory overload as a condition where the brain receives too much information from the senses, such as sight, sound, smell, touch, or taste. This excessive sensory input can overwhelm the individual’s ability to cope, leading to feelings of stress, fatigue, or even meltdowns.
For more information, you can visit the following URLs:
National Autistic Society: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/sensory-differences
NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/sensory-issues/