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TUCKED AWAY IN a quiet corner of Dublin City University’s library is a little pod.
It has a sliding door, soft blankets, pillows, multicoloured lights, air conditioning, and speakers.
Although it sounds like the exact kind of environment a third-level student might like to stumble into after a heavy night, that’s not quite it’s purpose: It’s a sensory pod, designed for students with autism.
Most of us find university campuses to be a loud, frenetic environments, but for a student on the spectrum, these distractions and noises can become even more problematic and seriously interfere with their education.
An 18-month research project by DCU highlighted the difficulties facing students said sensory issues, ranging from the smell of the canteen, walls painted red, the hum of projectors, and cluttered furniture.
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The pods allow students with autism who become overwhelmed to escape this environment, giving them a break or allowing them to study, and is part of the college’s effort to maintain its status as the world’s first autism-friendly university.
Watch the video above for more.
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