We are a group of three older Autistics individuals – one academic researcher (Marion Hersh) and two peer researchers (Michael Dawson & Panda Mery) working at the University of Glasgow. The idea for the Calm Spaces website came out of a research project funded by the UKRI healthy ageing programme with support from Zinc Catalyst. We carried out a survey which received responses from 78 older Autistic people. It identified two main solutions that older Autistic people were interested in: a guide to Autistic friendly spaces and services and support for executive functioning and life organisation.
The guide to Autistic friendly spaces and services has led to this Calm Spaces website. There is also an app version for use on mobile devices. We have received further funding from the EPSRC to develop Calm Spaces further and also set up a not-for-profit social organisation to manage it and the executive functioning system when it is set up. We also want to develop a community of older Autistic people round Calm Spaces.
If you are 50+ Autistic and interested in helping us set up this social organisation and/or to moderate the reviews, please get in touch at hello@calmspaces.org
