Autism-friendly environment? I think not!

[pearl]

OK so I've been working in a building site all summer as the ground floor of our big uni library is refurbed, a multi million pound job designed to enhance the CV of our new boss as he continues his journey up the greasy pole. (Incidentally, the very guy who interviewed & rejected JP for the IT apprenticeship last year - - so I am not his favourite employee, having ruined his fag break by asking him for feedback & enquiring why he hadnt put the university's Disability Equality Code into practice when interviewing him - anyway I digress)

 

So we got a sneak preview this week. Its like an explosion in a paint factory, with many many barcode-inspired stripy bits too. Every primary colour under the sun, stripy carpet in loads of different colours, RED lights in the cafe area, stripy sofas. I felt queasy after just a few minutes. Me & my colleague, who also has an adult AS son, just looked at each other & raised our eyebrows, as our boss pranced around like Laurence Llewellyn Bowen admiring his creation.

 

I sidled up to him & asked innocently, ummm, who decided the colour scheme then? Me if you like it, someone else if you don't, he replied. Weeell, its not that I don't like it, I replied, but did you give any thought to the problems of people with sensory processing problems, epilepsy or migraine might experience?

 

Blank look. What do you mean?

 

Well, someone with autism could enter the library and be completely freaked out by the reception area for a start, which has the biggest multi coloured barcode of all plastered across its front. If they negotiate past that they may find the floor rising up to meet them as all the various stripy carpets start to appear. The stripy sofas & weird lighting could trigger an epileptic attack or migraine in a susceptible person. But hey, the dedicated silent study area on the first floor is a GREAT idea .... if they can battle their way through all that.

 

He gave me his death ray stare & went out for another fag break. I'm guessing I'll not get promoted any time soon

 

I despair though. They wouldnt have dreamed of making it blind or deaf unfriendly.

[soraya]

You are so right pearl AS is defenately the unseen disability

[Flora]

Sounds like he is a devotee of the 80's Habitat monstrosities

 

Flora

[ScienceGeek]

Blimey it sounds awful! I can just imagine and that is sickening enough

[Kathryn]

Ouch!

 

I definitely think there needs to be more education on sensory issues for people who design public spaces. L's mainstream FE college had a bit refit last year and although the new rooms were very pleasant, they had installed fluorescent lighting which she finds really difficult to cope with. She has complained vigorously but just gets told to wear sunglasses. And the college has a significant number of students on the spectrum.

 

K x

Edited September 4, 2008 by Kathryn

[warrenpenalver]

He gave me his death ray stare & went out for another fag break. I'm guessing I'll not get promoted any time soon

thats exactly the reaction i got from my old Captain when i told him i was reporting a security breach of cryptographic material

 

Those colours and lines like that would either make me go nuts and id have a mental block wondering round like the undead for a while, or id be fascinated by the barcodes and look at the patterns!!

 

Not good for a modern uni in this day and age!!! specially as librarys are usually sanctuarys for AS people.

[pearl]

Imagine the Big Brother living room, but about the size of 6 football pitches

FURTHERMORE, *goes into rant mode again* the furniture is designed to be chucked out & replaced every two years. WORRABOUTHENVIRONMENT??? I hollered at the planning meeting. Same blank stare

 

Thats the infuriating thing. We were all asked our opinion. Pure lip service. They just went ahead & did what they'd planned to do all along. Poor security guys - they asked for a high up desk so they could see what was going on with a raised lip to hide all the confidential stuff behind. They got the lowest desk in the building (with the psycho bar code on the front, & a huge white expanse with no lip which theyve been told to keep clear so it doesnt spoil the look. I'm surprised they are not hiring male models & putting them in uniform!

 

librarys are usually sanctuarys for AS people

eggzackly Warren! I'm sure we get a higher proportion of AS peeps looking for a safe place. But its so carefully disguised now you wouldnt know its a library. Sheesh.

[Zosmum]

. Its like an explosion in a paint factory, with many many barcode-inspired stripy bits too. Every primary colour under the sun, stripy carpet in loads of different colours, RED lights in the cafe area, stripy sofas.

 

the biggest multi coloured barcode of all plastered across its

Feeling very sick and quite dizzy just imagining this. It sounds horrendous and definately overbearing

[TheNeil]

They wouldnt have dreamed of making it blind or deaf unfriendly.

Did they put a ramp in? If so, that's all disabled people catered for

 

And are you sure you actually work in a library or has it now become some sort of daytime nightclub?

[pearl]

Did they put a ramp in? If so, that's all disabled people catered for

Yes.

 

 

For the skateboarders.

 

And are you sure you actually work in a library or has it now become some sort of daytime nightclub?

I think its a case of management going with the flow, Neil. When it was just a boring old library with those antiquated things, "books", in, it was named in the student mag as the second best place to have sex in. Now I know Laurence Llewellyn Bowen wants to hoik us up the league tables - I reckon he's aiming for first place next year. I was wondering what those lockable study pods were for ....

[Mumble]

I'm sure we get a higher proportion of AS peeps looking for a safe place. But its so carefully disguised now you wouldnt know its a library. Sheesh.

Unfortunately I think this is the way universities are going I certainly don't use my uni library as a place of peace (if fact it's written in my AoN that I need additional support because the library environment is too noisy/busy/bright for someone on the spectrum ). I'm just thankful that the old library I sometimes use is a listed building (but not a penguin pool) and hence (hopefully ) can't be ransacked by people who watch Mr Llewellyn-Bowen and believe that all spaces must look like his 'creations' (or like exhibits in the Tate Modern (bricks excluded)). (BTW has anyone ever seen pictures of Mr Llewellyn-Bowen's home? - Is it 'normal' or does he live in one of his creations? )

[pearl]

Well its my thread so I can say whether it goes or not! And you know how I lurve discussing interior design. In fact they should have got ME to design the library, I'd have used heritage colours & tasteful dark wood furniture, like a giant version of my living room.

 

Anyhoo:

Here's Laurence's kitchen

discuss

[TheNeil]

Anyhoo:

Here's Laurence's kitchen

discuss

Oh I love the neo-Rococo scrollwork surrounding the art-deco doorway (itself leading through to the dining vestibule, or the 'inner sanctum' as one might say). It perfectly encapsulates the juxtaposition twixt traditional and the contemporary (providing almost a 'culture clash' of the classical neo-Georgian and the artistry of 17th century French architects, LaRochelle and Pantalon-Rouge) but, at the same time allows light to flood the space and skillfully draws the eye through the lampshade from Ikea.

 

Just a shame he painted it yellow really

[pearl]

Guacamole: the new Avocado

Pyrolave: the new Formica

 

And look at his stylish extractor, just visible below his chandelier! What wouldnt I give for a stylish extractor, just visible below my chandelier ....

 

I like the way the food matches the colour of the kitchen.

[TheNeil]

I like the way the food matches the colour of the kitchen.

You mean 'bland'

[pearl]

Perhaps he's one of these peeps that only eats neutral-coloured food .....

[TheNeil]

Perhaps he's one of these peeps that only eats neutral-coloured food .....

Does that include ice cream? White chocolate ( )? Pak Choi?

[pearl]

Yes. Now think of a recipe that includes all three ingredients but wont make you vomit.

[TheNeil]

Yes. Now think of a recipe that includes all three ingredients but wont make you vomit.

Will Ainsley Harriott be judging this ASD version of Ready Steady Cook? Am I green peppers or red tomatos?

 

And the recipe would have to be...vanilla ice cream covered in shavings of white chocolate all served in a Pak Choi 'flute'. I won't hurl though as I'll either get 'Ains' to taste it or just punch Anthony Worrall Thompson

 

[someone is now going to point out that I'm 5 years out of date and neither 'Ains' or Anthony Worrall Thompson has anything to do with the porgramme aren't they?]

 

[And, just out of interest, how did this thread go from being about a library being re-decorated to being a contestant on Ready, Steady Cook? ]

[Mumble]

[And, just out of interest, how did this thread go from being about a library being re-decorated to being a contestant on Ready, Steady Cook? ]

I came along....

[Zosmum]

WOW!!!

 

I like the way you're all thinking

 

I'm not the only mad person round here!

[ScienceGeek]

I'm not the only mad person round here!

 

You do know where you are, right?? This is like a haven for mad people

[warrenpenalver]

We're not mad the REST of the world is mad!!

[TheNeil]

I came along....

Well that means that it should be your fault...but...it's always my fault...confuzzled...brain hurts...

[Tally]

I think it's hilarious that he doesn't have a microwave because he doesn't like the annoying noise they make

[pearl]

I wonder if his wife agrees with him, or does she not like the annoying noise he makes