Academic Journal Article (Autism, Airport Accessibility and Participatory Design).
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613251337200
After developing a broader understanding of accessible tourism, I wanted to examine a more specific stage of international travel. Airports appeared particularly relevant because they combine sensory stimulation, security procedures, crowds, queues, unfamiliar layouts and strict time pressures. I chose this paper because it provides a recent and autism-specific examination of airport accessibility. The research analysed environmental assessments completed across six Australian airports between 2017 and 2024. Each airport walkthrough involved two consultants, with at least one Autistic consultant participating in every assessment. The reports were then examined using reflexive thematic analysis. Unlike research that asks non-autistic professionals to speculate about accessibility, this study positioned Autistic consultants as active evaluators of the airport environment. This was particularly relevant to my project because it demonstrates how lived experience can reveal barriers that may not be obvious to designers, airport staff or other travellers.
One of my initial reflections was that the paper does not treat the airport as a neutral setting through which passengers move. Instead, it presents the airport as an active part of the travel experience. Lighting, sound, smells, crowds, signage, security instructions and queuing systems can all influence whether an Autistic traveller feels able to navigate the environment.
The researchers identified two overarching themes:
This distinction was useful because it showed that accessibility is not solely about reducing sensory stimulation. It also involves providing enough information, structure, and predictability so that someone understands what is happening and what they are expected to do.
Theme 1: Airports are sensory environments.
The assessments identified visual, auditory and olfactory features that could either support or restrict Autistic travellers.
Potential barriers included: