Inclusion
In the special needs community, inclusion is often referred to as the process of including a person with autism in the mainstream school environment, their community, or a job in their community.
Parents want their children to have the same opportunities as their peers. While the most common concern is their child being included in their school, parents also want to be able to include their children in the wider community. Some examples of community inclusion include: visiting a museum, seeing a movie in a theater, participating in an exercise class or sport team, or attending a religious service.
Here is an example of how a community resource can be made accessible. Some movie theaters have decided to partner with the autism community to offer special morning showings for people with autism. How do they adjust their environment? By turning up the lights, turning down the sound, and offering it at an otherwise slow time during the day. Not only are the theaters offering a way to give people with autism a chance to see a movie on a large screen, they are creating an opportunity to increase their business, promote their business and give back to the community.
Below are some links to various websites that can help kickstart making an environment more accessible to individuals with ASD. If you have specific questions, please feel free to contact us at info@milestones.org or call (216) 464-7600.
Additional Resources
An Introduction to Universal Design
How to Make an Organization More Inclusive
Promoting Inclusive Spaces and How to Create Them
Autism-Friendly Spaces
Community Inclusion for Adults with Autism
Visiting a Museum – Top Tips for Access and Inclusion
How to Make Your Home Autism-Friendly for Kids
Church and Community- How to Welcome Families Who Have Children with Autism
Autism and Faith: A Journey Into Community
Inclusion in the Classroom