Roslyn Shaw-Kelly

SENSCAPE, an interactive sensory table for adults with autism.

Natural spaces offer something powerful to us all. For some, they provide refuge from the sensory and social demands of everyday life, a place to regulate, breathe and simply be. Despite this, shared natural spaces are rarely designed with adults with autism in mind.

SENSCAPE tries to change that. It is an interactive sensory water table designed for use in shared natural outdoor spaces, developed from participatory research with adults with autism, their families and the people who support them. This research was conducted with the ARISE Project which aims to improve inclusivity in shared outdoor spaces in Limerick. Through interviews, co-design workshops and focus groups, five key themes emerged around sensory regulation, water, user control, predictability and social connection.

SENSCAPE is a water table that integrates weight sensors and warm-lit ring LEDs. The water table features an adjustable, calming fountain and natural elements to interact with. When an object is placed on one of the sensors, the LED animation is activated. The heavier the object, the brighter the light. There is a button to turn on and off the light as desired.

SENSCAPE is a designed element that aims to support adults with autism to engage with shared natural spaces and encourage independence, social connection and overall wellbeing. It contributes to the emerging field of interaction design for adults with autism in everyday public spaces, showing that inclusive, nature-integrated design is possible. It simply requires listening...