Being autistic-friendly

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Eric529
Level 2
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Being autistic-friendly

Hello


Accepting the diversity of humans means also accepting the autistics.
I am an autistic (so-called "Asperger") and I use to host guests with AirBNB and they are happy (and me too).
I would like to host autistics, and to help AirBNB (and hosts) to understand how to be autistic-friendly.
This is a vast subject.


I am a specialist of autism (I mean that I understand autism, which is not the same thing as what is generally thought and spread).
After hosting all kinds of persons during about 11 months, I found that I'm more open and less "afraid" of meeting (and hosting) unknown persons.
AirBNB revenues are helping us to pay the rent for our headquarters for our autistics organization (the apartment).
It is highly important for the autistics to be able to travel and to do new experiences.


But it can be very challenging, both for them and for the hosts, if there are no appropriate accommodations, starting with some understanding of autism.
Not to mention that some people don't even know that they are autistic...
Maybe someone from AirBNB can react to this message.
Thanks for reading.

Autistic specialist of autism
1 Best Answer

The only thing I can offer is info about an organization called Champion Autism Network, which lists properties that highlight light and noise dampening features, plus many other features. It’s a great resource for people who want to learn about autism and what they can do to make their property more comfortable for their guests with autism.

 

 

 

 

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30 Replies 30
Isabel203
Level 10
Halifax, Canada

Hey @Eric529! I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on what hosts can do to help their guests who have autism feel comfortable in their space.

Salut 

Je suis tout à fait d'accord Les personnes avec autisme ou Les cargivers ont beoisn de son espace et des  petits adaptations qui peuvent faire tout La différence dans les expériences de voyages familiales .

Tres impliqué avec multiples organisations , Je cherche toujours à faire comprendre apartir de notre expérience de 20 ans par exemple notre fils déjà adulte souffre énormément avec le tintinement des lumières fluorescentes ( qui peuvent occasionnellement dériver en crise épileptique . ) et ses crises son très sévères . Il a plus tôt ún question de volonté et organisation d une  plateforme organisé . Pas plus ... la liste peut s'avérer large mais Les adaptations de base sont plus tôt assez simples et faciles de mettre en place . 

Merci 

Stephanie
Community Manager
Community Manager
London, United Kingdom

Hi there @Marie-Noël2 ,

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Community Center! Did you know we have a dedicated forum for the French language? You can check it out here: Community Center French

 

Thanks,

 

Stephanie

-----

 

Please follow the Community Guidelines 

thank you for your answer. Stéphanie .Yes, I am aware of the existence of the arbnb French community  I simply wanted to answer the gentleman. honestly I don’t believe with current technology language is a barrier , but ....thank you for reading my comments regarding the community of people with autism Have  à Nice day 

Dimitar27
Level 10
Sofia, Bulgaria

Hi Eric. Autistic people are very rare in the tourist industry at all. I've seen autistic children only twice in my life and it was long, long ago. It will be very useful if you tell us more abut the needs of this people and how hosts can help them to feel fine during their stay. One thing I remember about this two children, was their very high photosensitivity. Bright and flashing lights, neon lights , etc. can cause complete loss of orientation. But that's all I remember.

La réalité de touristes autistiques est moin de être rare , plus si on considère que 1 /40 des enfants au monde ont un diagnostique autistisme.

nous les familles,ou cargivers  on voyage avec nos enfant  Comme tout le monde mais ils ont des besoins spéciaux comme un paralytique par exemple ils ont  des dérèglement sensoriels entre autres   . Faire des petits adaptations ne sont pas coûteux et pourrions faire tout une diffenece. La liste est longue  .mais honnêtement je pense que serais plus tout ún question d'organisation de Airbnb d'adapter leur site et dinner  de l'informations adéquate à leur usager ....Travaillant auprès des personnes et dès enfants il faut certains adaptación quelques uns très simples . Si le propriété a ou moins la base des adaptations peut éventuellement  rentrer dans la catégorie autiste frendly .par exemple avoir un cusine à dispositions est très utile car ils ont habituellement ún diète restreinte et des goûts particulières , Comme ansi utiliser des lumières Non incandescentes ( car la plus part sont dérangée  ils sont capables de apercevoir Les clignotements de ses lumières aún œil régulière ne peut pas voir  , un pourcentage peut avoir l'épilepsie et être declanche par cette infime détaille de la lumière ... étc étc étc 

merci de m'avoir lu et au nom des familles quz Comme la mienne ont des gros difficultés a l heures de voyager avec cette particularité . 

@Dimitar27  Autistic people are rare in the tourist industry? That's a very strange idea and shows that you don't really understand what autism encompasses. I'm no expert, but autism is a "spectrum"- autistics can fall anywhere along that spectrum, from very high-functioning, you wouldn't even usually realize it, to there very obviously being things not normal about them.  

The tech world has a larger percentage of those on the autism spectrum than many other lines of work, (often a form of of autism called Asperger's) as autistic people are usually not socially adept- they have a hard time reading and interpreting facial expressions, knowing what is appropriate social interaction, tend to avoid direct eye contact, and can feel uncomfortable in social situations. So working in the tech world, which generally entails sitting alone at one's computer all day, is a venue that doesn't present so many dificulties for them as a job where they have to interact with others all day, and Aspergers people also have a high aptitude for that type of work and can be quite brilliant when it comes to computer programming, etc, as they can focus intently on things which are of interest to them for long periods of time.

You likely know people you come into contact with on a daily basis who are somewhere on the autism spectrum and aren't even aware of it. They may not be either. 

Mental illnesses aren’t always noticeable. Many autistic individuals do this thing called masking. There are many people on the autism spectrum who act “normal” or fit in well, this is more often than not because of masking. Masking is when an individual tries to fit in better by copying common behaviors from their peers so they don’t stand out, or feel different. 

Kecen0
Level 1
College Station, TX

Please be 100% clear on cleanliness rules.

Don't expect autistic people know everything that is "common sense".

I grew up sheltered and I wasn't taught a lot of things because I was assumed too "disabled" to do them on my own. I just had some hosts leave me a bad review over cleanliness rules I wasn't aware of.

@Kecen0  I can assure you that there are many, many so-called "normal" people who exhibit very little common sense either. It's important for hosts to be very clear about their rules and expectations to all guests, not just those with some challenges.

I'm sorry you were considered too disabled to be taught and learn some things. Even if a child doesn't have disabilities, parents often fail to teach basic life skills these days. 

You can leave a response to that review, you know, which might be a good idea. You can just say you have some learning disabilities and that you would have totally complied with the cleaning expected, but the host wasn't clear with you about what they wanted you to do.

It also wouldn't be a bad idea for you to let a host know when you arrive that you are somewhat autistic, so you'd appreciate if they were very specific about what they expected, not to just assume you would know. I'd certainly appreciate a guest letting me know that, so the stay worked smoothly for both of us.

Eric529
Level 2
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Thanks a lot for that contribution. I'm sad to read about that.
We need to change things, and I believe that this can be done through important decisions at the highest levels.

Autistic specialist of autism
Julie3889
Level 2
Austin, TX

I am mom to an awesome autistic 5 year old and I’ve often thought on this topic (as one that loves travel!) . It is so cool that you’re a host and are taking our ASD community members into consideration. I’d love to one day see Air B n B have  “autism friendly “ or something like that as a filter /feature. For example, my kiddo is a runner /Eloper , so special locks on doors would be helpful and fenced in outdoor space is a must. She’s also a sensory input seeker , so swings and things that spin or can be climbed would be awesome to have on the property. I’m excited to see this dialogue!!! So thank you so much for posting (; 

Eric529
Level 2
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Hello all and @Stephanie, sorry about the delay but I found a notification about my post (ie. the initial text) only today.

Very glad to see so much interest.

Of course it would be interesting and useful to discuss and to share (like some persons did here) about those problems and their solutions.
But one has to be pragmatic.
With all respect due to everyone here who tried to help our cause (autism) by giving some opinion and advice, my goal regarding AIrBNB is to have that company *really* taking autism (and our advices) into account, which would be beneficial for everyone (including AirBNB).

Unfortunately, although I tried many times to communicate about that with AirBNB, I receive some sort of "standard" or "planned" answers, without, never, having been able to get in touch with the person in charge of "diversity" and accessibility (if this person or position exists).

We cannot really change things with debates in forums. 
And we also have the right to consideration and to real conversations with the right persons, not just with "support experts" (even the best ones) who always reply that, yes, our comments have been forwarded to the right department, and later, no news: that's not serious, nor fair.

We, as a global organization of autistic persons, we discuss with governments.
So why not with AirBNB ?

I am a "SuperHost" and I can explain very well about how hosting helped me as an autistic person (after receiving more than 800 guests in 4 years, which was intimidating at first), but I can also explain how "autism" (and not the "troubles") helps, given that it's the only way to explain why I'm SuperHost.
And of course I can give many advices about what to do and not to do in order to host autistic persons and their caregivers or families.
And my autistic colleagues can participate to such a dialogue, of course.
But it has to be done seriously, through emails with the appropriate person or service at AirBNB.

In case maybe my messages have been lost or forgotten, I can't do more than proposing, once again, to contact us at the Autistan Diplomatic Organization.
Given that, apparently, AirBNB will never provide us with their appropriate email address, it's difficult because if they send us an email from that dedicated service, then we will know that address (?).
 
I don't know if I can post a link or an email address here, but our Internet domain is "autistan", we have a dot org, and our email address is contact at domain dot org.

Thank you very much.

Autistic specialist of autism

Your website is amazing ! I just read about this amazing autistic individual that started a consulting company for helping autistic individuals that would like to, travel ! An interview with nomad and wanderlust Katie Oswald | The Art of Autism (the-art-of-autism.com)    also have you heard of mobility abroad? Americans Going Abroad | Mobility International USA (miusa.org) granted these are from USA perspective and I'd like more perspectives/ideas/contacts.......I have also often thought about getting university's offices of services for students with disabilities involved somehow... Cheers to not giving up!