Sensory needs are not a preference or a choice. For many autistic individuals, unmet sensory needs can lead to significant distress and even limit access to everyday environments. With this in mind, how can buildings be designed—or adapted—to better support sensory differences?
First, it’s important to realize that a person can be a sensory seeker or avoider. Sensory seekers may actively pursue stimulating experiences, while sensory avoiders may feel overwhelmed by factors such as noise, proximity to others, strong smells, or visual input. Importantly, a person’s sensory threshold can vary across different senses.
Designing spaces for autistic children and adults requires thoughtful consideration of a variety of sensory stimulation. Conducting a sensory audit—and involving neurodivergent individuals in the process—is strongly recommended. As the disability rights movement emphasizes: “Nothing about us without us.”
In one study, more than half of autistic patients reported avoiding medical care due to issues like:
- Crowded waiting rooms
- Noise from reception staff and other patients
- Uncomfortable seating
- Being touched while in the waiting room
- Fluorescent or intense lighting
- Office smells
- Music in the waiting room (Doherty et al., 2022)
While autism assessments such as the MIGDAS-2 and ABAS-3 can help identify support needs, it is equally important for environments, like healthcare facilities, to proactively address sensory challenges of their patients.
Sound Presents Lots of Challenges
Sound is often one of the most challenging sensory inputs. Controlling acoustics can be particularly difficult in large or busy environments. For instance, the Dallas Museum of Art has multiple galleries spread out among four floors. Fortunately, they have museum guides and signage to indicate their sensory-friendly spaces and offer. earplugs and headphones during large events.
For many autistic individuals, everyday sounds can be overwhelming or even painful. As one university student described:
“Everybody is on their laptops typing at the speed of light, and that tikatik noise, which drills into my ears to the point where I could not focus on anything the teacher was saying ‘cause all I could hear was the noise of the other students around typing, and I would have [panic] attacks” (Clément et al., 2022).
Reducing background noise, offering quiet areas, and providing noise-reduction tools can significantly improve accessibility.
Sight: Avoid Visual Clutter
Bright colors, clutter, and excessive visual detail can be distracting, or even physically uncomfortable for autistic individuals. Dr. Sandra Beale-Ellis, author of Sensing the City: An Autistic Perspective, took a look at the B&B experience through an autistic individual’s eyes:
“One sensory challenge might be a tendency in some I have visited to fill rooms with bits and pieces which collect dust and can cause visual overload. This could cause a kind of motion sickness in autistic individuals.”
Lighting is another key factor. Fluorescent lighting can flicker or hum, contributing to discomfort. Alternatives such as adjustable LED lighting or well-distributed natural light can create a more supportive environment.
Touch: Steer Clear of Confined Spaces
Sensitivity to touch—including crowded or confined spaces—can also impact how environments are experienced.
Clear, unobstructed pathways and adequate spacing between furniture or displays can help reduce stress. Higher ceilings and open layouts may also contribute to a greater sense of comfort.
As one autistic person explained: “I love going to bookshops. They tend to be quite quiet… particularly ones where the shelves are all quite spaced out from each other, so you’re not kind of crammed in against other people” (MacLennan et al., 2023).
Smells: Proper Ventilation Is a Must
Strong or unfamiliar smells can interfere with concentration, comfort, and participation. Common triggers include perfumes, cleaning chemicals, scented products, and off-gassing from materials.
Exposure to these odors may also contribute to physical symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Changes in eating behavior
- Asthma or respiratory discomfort
- Neurological effects
Improving ventilation, maintaining indoor air quality, and minimizing unnecessary scents are essential considerations in design (Zwilling & Levy, 2022).
Taste: Understanding Food Selectivity
Autistic individuals may have challenges relating to food textures and tastes. In fact, some researchers have stated that as many as 80% of autistic children have unique sensory experiences that cause “food selectivity.” This isn’t a case of being a “picky eater,” either. Instead, brain imaging studies make it clear that certain taste sensitivities and brain structures are related (Goldschlager et al., 2025).
One way to handle taste sensitivities is to let your visitors know in advance about their food options.
Sensory Guides Can Help
Sensory guides are helpful because they enable people to discover a building before they visit. These guides should provide a rating for each of the five common senses. As an example, the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum offers sensory guides on its website. Touch is rated a 3 out of 10, while sound is ranked at 8 out of 10.
As a result, the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) designated the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum as a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC). This means that the IBCCES has certified that the museum staff received training “to better understand what autism is (and isn’t), how to empathize and understand how autistic individuals experience the world, communicate more effectively, and be aware of common sensitivities and concerns in a recreational environment” (IBCCES, n.d.).
Regulation Tools
Providing sensory supports—such as regulation kits or backpacks—can further enhance accessibility. These kits may include items like:
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Communication cards
- Fidget tools
The Nasher Sculpture Center, for example, offers sensory backpacks that include communication tools and headphones, helping create a more inclusive experience. When these resources are listed on a website in advance, visitors can better prepare and feel more confident navigating the environment.
Sensory differences are common for many people. Sensitivity could point to migraines, stress, burnout, overstimulation – not just conditions with formal diagnoses. Therefore, an inviting and functional environment helps the entire community feel welcomed and involved.
