What is Aspect Autism Friendly Accreditation?

Aspect Autism Friendly Accreditation helps organisations create calm, predictable and supportive physical environments for Autistic people and people with Hidden Disabilities. Accreditation provides visible reassurance that a space meets best-practice guidelines, that staff are trained, and that quality is maintained over time.

Why accreditation matters

Australian businesses, stadiums and venues are increasingly looking to provide quiet rooms, quiet spaces and quiet times to better support customers with Hidden Disabilities.

• 1 in 5 Australians have a disability.

• Around 80–90% of disabilities are hidden (non-visible).

Autistic sensory needs and the built environment

Autistic people experience the sensory world differently. Whilst this can bring great joy, it can also lead to sensory stress and overwhelm.

Aspect Autism Friendly supports organisations to reduce overwhelm by:

• Developing more sensory-considerate environments

• Communicating potential sensory stressors beforehand (e.g., visual stories and sensory maps)

• Supporting coping strategies (e.g., noise-cancelling headphones)

• Providing Quiet Spaces or similar spaces (including Sensory Rooms)

What accreditation includes

Accreditation allows organisations with accredited physical spaces (including Quiet Rooms) and/or quiet times to use Aspect’s accreditation icon for 12 months, and includes:

• Listing on Aspect Autism Friendly channels (e.g., directory / events listings)
• Promotion opportunities (as appropriate) to Aspect’s community and via media collaboration
• A quality audit by trained staff to ensure standards are maintained
• Support for continuous improvement based on customer feedback and emerging research

About Aspect Autism Friendly

Aspect Autism Friendly works with partners across Australia in areas such as transport, shops and shopping centres, cultural institutions and sporting organisations. We also partner with the Hidden Disability Sunflower initiative delivered by Bayley House. All our work is co-designed and co-delivered with Autistic people and follows a comprehensive framework for designing autism-friendly environments.