Sensory Navigation: Reading the Sensescape of a City

How can mapping the Sensescape of the city of Reading's pedestrianised urban areas
improve the user experience of neurodivergent women over the age of 18? Can
wayfinding and embodied methodologies by utilised in order to improve awareness of
atypical sensory engagement and city navigation facilitate accessibility
Abstract
There is a male bias in ASD research and little is known about women's experience of
place. My research aims to address these discrepancies and develop a transferable
methodology that can be used with other demographics.
I will undertake a unique case study into Reading's sensory landscape and the impact
that it has on autistic women aged 18 and over. Working closely with Reading's ASD
networks and UK leading autistic charity Autistica, I will employ wearable technologies
in order to accurately map the physical impact of the environment on the individual. In
conjunction with this, I will use surveys, questionnaires and interviews to understand the
psychological impact.
I expect that the research will yield data that redefines how we think about, and engage
with, neurodivergent women. My research will promote inclusivity and accessibility in
pedestrianised areas and facilitate empathetic activism in collaboration with ASD
communities.
Project Objectives
There is an acknowledged gap in research surrounding sensory processing within the
neurodivergent community, however, this gap is expensive in relation to women's
experience. This project is unique in addressing the sensory impact on this
demographic specifically in the pedestrianised urban sense scapes.
A key area to address is the differences in wayfinding that neurodivergent have. By
understanding how sensory stimulation and overload impacts upon wayfinding, we can
better understand the use of pedestrianised places. Utilizing embodied, practice-based
and qualitative methodologies to deliver a comprehensive and holistic approach to data
collation, knowledge gathering and dissemination driving the field of transdisciplinary
research.
The University of Reading will help to build my career in research facilitating me to
generate research and disseminate my findings. I will be able to contribute to the
discourse that impacts public policies and influences the built environment as well as
urban planning.
The implications of this project will drive and inform future research in multiple research
fields; ASD research, feminist research and the urban environment. It will highlight
further gaps in knowledge in conjunction with bridging gaps. By working with the
demographic the project will raise awareness and promote advocacy and agency.
Background
Sensory processing in ASD is severely under-researched and ripe for investigation.
According to Autistica, 8 in 10 ASD people have problems experiencing the sensory
world and 9 in 10 'feel' that they experience it 'differently'. Sensory processing in
relation to place is a top ten priority. Research has suggested that there may be a
genetic link between autism and mental health conditions - tangible evidence
suggesting that environments trigger or influence how these conditions manifest.
Suicide is currently the leading cause of death in the ASD community with women twice
as likely to enact than men - only £6.60 is spent on research per ASD person per year
but there is no gender breakdown of spending (Autistica, 2016). With an approximate
diagnosis of 3:1 male to female, we can expect that there will be a trend dominated by
male-orientated spending and research (Looms et al., 2017).
The research I will undertake will be unique, impactful and meaningful, it will directly
address systemic injustices linked to feminism, ableism and architecture. Having
implications on a spectrum of disciplines, including psychogeographic, urban planning
sectors and the built environment. Through mapping and understanding 'place' we can
generate empathetic responses and inclusive outcomes.