Autistic-led insights on airport accessibility: A retrospective analysis of environmental assessments.

This study looked at reports from autistic people who assessed six Australian airports to see how they could be made more autism-friendly. The main problems were overwhelming sensory experiences (bright lights, loud noises) and difficulty navigating airports. Key recommendations included creating quiet spaces, using softer lighting, and improving signs to make navigation easier. This is the first study to systematically look at making airports more accessible for autistic travelers.

This retrospective analysis examined autism-friendly environmental assessments conducted at six Australian airports between 2017-2024, led by autistic individuals. Using reflexive thematic analysis of assessment reports based on an evidence-informed autism-friendly framework, researchers identified two key themes: navigating sensory landscapes and helping passengers navigate with confidence. The study highlighted the importance of sensory adaptations (natural lighting, quiet spaces), clearer visual aids, and enhanced communication supports. This represents the first systematic application of autism-friendly principles to airport environments, providing evidence-based recommendations for inclusive design.

The research emphasizes participatory design approaches involving autistic perspectives to create genuinely accessible public spaces for autistic travelers.

Supports need for sensory-sensitive environments and clear communication systems in public spaces. Highlights importance of autistic-led assessments in accessibility planning. Provides practical framework for airports and similar venues to implement autism-friendly modifications including quiet spaces, natural lighting, and improved wayfinding systems.

Sample size not reported. Retrospective analysis of existing reports rather than primary data collection. Limited to six Australian airports, potentially limiting generalizability. No comparison with non-autistic travelers' experiences or quantitative outcome measures provided.

Autistic people often encounter significant barriers when navigating airports, largely due to overwhelming sensory environments, stringent security procedures, and crowded spaces. This study aimed to enhance understanding of airport accessibility by retrospectively analyzing reports from Autistic-led environmental assessments conducted at six Australian airports between 2017 and 2024. Drawing on an evidence-informed autism-friendly framework, the assessments focused on eight key elements, including sensory adaptations, communication supports, and preparation and predictability. Through reflexive thematic analysis, two key themes were generated: (1) navigating the sensory landscape and (2) help passengers navigate with confidence.

Our findings underscore the importance of sensory adjustments-such as natural lighting and quiet spaces-alongside clearer visual aids and communication supports. Importantly, this study represents the first systematic application of autism-friendly principles to airport environments, offering practical, evidence-based recommendations for more inclusive design. By foregrounding the perspectives of Autistic individuals, this research highlights the need for participatory design approaches to create public spaces that are genuinely accessible and supportive for Autistic travelersLay abstractAirports can be challenging for Autistic people because of overwhelming sensory experiences like bright lights and loud noises, security processes, and crowded spaces. This study analyzed reports from six Australian airports, produced between 2017 and 2024, to understand how airports can be made better for Autistic travelers.

These reports were based on assessments led by Autistic people and used a specific framework to evaluate areas like sensory experiences and communication needs. The study found two main ways to improve accessibility: (1) reducing sensory challenges, like loud noises or bright, overwhelming areas, and (2) improving communication and wayfinding to make navigation clearer and easier. Some of the recommendations included providing quiet spaces for travelers, using softer and more natural lighting, and improving signs to make it easier for people to navigate airports. This is the first study to apply autism-friendly principles to airports and shows the importance of involving Autistic people in the design of more inclusive public spaces.

The findings offer practical recommendations for airports around the world to better support Autistic travelers.