Understanding Sensory Overload and how to avoid in your workplace 29 th November 2021 1230pm A project part funded by the European Social Fund ESF with matchfunding provided by NYCC CYC ERYC and HEY Smile Foundation ID: 1047800
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1. Thriving at WorkNeurodiversity Webinar SeriesUnderstanding Sensory Overload and how to avoid in your workplace29th November 2021 – 12.30pmA project part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) with match-funding provided by NYCC, CYC, ERYC and HEY Smile Foundation.
2. What is Thriving at Work?Project Vision - Inclusive, accessible and healthy workplaces that increase productivity and create an environment where all employees can thrive.Inclusive Workplaces – tailored packages of support for SMEs to improve their inclusive workplace practices, inspiring culture change and positive disclosure. Practical support with recruitment, policies and procedures and enabling an inclusive culture. Diversity Training – high quality training, resources and tools that empower staff, support them to thrive, help to embed inclusive practices and increase employee wellbeingWorkplace Support – 121 support packages for employed individuals with disabilities, mental health challenges and neurodiversity that support them to thrive
3. Learning aims for this sessionAfter the session today, attendees will:
4. Understanding our SensesFive well known senses:Vision Visual perceptionHearing Auditory perceptionTouch Tactile perceptionTaste Gustatory perceptionSmell Olfactory perceptionTwo further senses: Vestibular (information received from middle ear relating to balance & movement)Proprioceptive (information received from muscles, joints and body parts)
5. Sensory DifferencesHyper or Hypo SensitiveSights, sounds, smellsTakes longer to familiarise with new environmentsDifficulty focusing attentionIncreased awareness of surroundings
6. Sensory Challenges: VisionVisual overload Too much inputStruggle to filter unnecessary imagesBusy environmentsConfusing settings – not always clear how to navigate
7. Sensory Challenges: VisionMay struggle with too much visual stimuli at onceCluttered and busy environments can be challengingWalking into a busy area can be overwhelming (where to go / look first)Visual distortion of surfaces can be challenging, i.e. shiny surfaces, optical illusion spaces
8. Sensory Challenges: Vision
9. Sensory Challenges: Vision Avoid bright lightingReduce clutter/ background Plain patterns that are not too overwhelming Understand that someone might need to wear sunglasses or a cap Usually seen as an inappropriate workplace behaviourMake signage clearMake the entrance/ where to go obvious
10. Sensory Challenges: AuditoryMay appear sensitive to certain sounds and not others “dog whistle”May overreact to sounds or noisy placesStruggle to filter out background noisesAuditory overload can cause the brain to become overloaded with information
11. Sensory Challenges: AuditoryMay dislikes loud or unexpected sounds such as fire alarms, sirens, or fireworksThey may startle easily to unexpected sounds, such as sirens or phone ringing The individual may dislike higher pitched sounds, such as paper shredders or hand dryersThey could have difficulty with low hum pitched sounds, such as air conditioning humming or solar panels May be distracted by background noises, such as traffic outside, background music, air conditioner or hum from fluorescent lightsThey may notice sounds that others don’t noticeMay attempt to physically cover their ears to sounds
12. Your workplaceBased on what has been said so far, type in the chat any vision or auditory challenges your office may pose to individuals
13. Sensory Challenges: TouchThe touch sense responds to anything that touches the skinIt also sends sensory messages regarding pain, temperature and vibration Different types of touch include:PainMessage to our brains to say we are injuredTemperatureGoosebumps/ hairs standing up, shiveringVibrationSensation of movement
14. Sensory Challenges: TouchTouch sense allows us to determine;Where something has touched us or where we are injuredFeel the size, shape and texture of itemsMove our body away from dangers (i.e. stopping on a stone)Know it something is hot or coldBe able to coordinate our hand to eye appropriately to pick up items/ drink from a cup, etc
15. Sensory Challenges: TouchWhen touch sense is affected we respond differently and can not move away from danger Some individuals struggle with certain texturesMay not notice if injuredMay struggle with eating certain foodsImpacting on confidence at lunch breaksMay struggle to hold items or use certain productsMay need to hold items or fidget with items
16. Sensory Challenges: TouchIn the chat – name an item that you struggle to touch due to how it makes you feel
17. Sensory Challenges: Taste & Smell TasteMay struggle eating certain foodsMay affect a persons willingness to go on nights outCan struggle with certain liquids, difficulty drinking hot drinks due to sensitivityMay be specific over how drinks are madeSmellMay be oversensitive to office smellsMay be under sensitive and not smell smoke for instance
18. Sensory Challenges: VestibularVestibular movement is where the middle ear helps communicate messages about balance and movement Can cause and individual to fear or avoid movementAppear clumsy due to falling or tripping Unable to control balance Struggle to determine movement around objects/ navigate obstacles
19. Sensory Challenges: ProprioceptiveAbility to know where our limbs and legs are – Hand to eye coordinationKnow the force and speed of movement of items ie. a car moving towards youOur ability to balance and coordinate our body Standing on one ankle and feel your body correct itselfRiding a bike and being able to adjust balanceProprioceptors is your muscle telling your brain what is happening
20. Sensory Challenges: ProprioceptiveSeeking out proprioception:Fidgeting and moving around a lotChewing itemsHanging off things/ leaning on things Pushing itemsSlow response to proprioception:Using too much force, and may break things accidentallyDescribed as having ‘weak muscles’ and may use too little pressureLeaning or slumping on walls, furniture or othersBecoming tired easily
21. A few typical Sensory Challenges in a workplaceGlare from windowsBright lightsCanteen areasCluttered workspacesPhones ringing regularlyPhotocopier/ printer setting off unexpectedlyFire AlarmsPeople shouting across the officeKitchen noisesRadios playing in the background
22. Your workplaceIn the chat – identify one thing you are going to go back and change in your own environment to make it more sensory friendly?
23. Hints and TipsUse none fluorescent lightingTurn down background radio noisesEnsure blinds are blackout and are usableNoise cancelling headsetsSeating away from the kitchen areaSeating away from corridors or walkwaysAvoid clutter/ too much Try not to over complicate workspacesReduce obstaclesPre-warn of alarmsProvide a buddy who can look out forInclude, ask and check back
24. Key takeaways from this session Think about your own workplace and what sensory challenges it may face- what input can you reduce/ remove?Be more alert to sensory challenges and the impact on individualsBe able to advice others in your workplace about areas that could be improved to reduce sensory overload
25. Next steps Inclusive Workplaces – You work for a Micro, small or Medium sized enterprise (SME), with less that 250 employees and an annual turnover that does not exceed 50 Million euros.Diversity Training –You are in employment, including self employment, furlough or flexible furlough, from any sized organisation.You are able to provide evidence of Right to Work in the UK & employment status. Workplace Support – You are in employment, including self employment, furlough or flexible furlough, from any sized organisation.You are able to provide evidence of Right to Work in the UK & employment status. You have a disability or health condition, be neurodivergent or experience mental health challenges. These do not need to be diagnosed or evidenced.You can access further support and training through Thriving at Work if…
26. Find out moreFor more information about any of the following;How to get involvedHow to access organisational supportHow to access the diversity trainingHow to access 121 support and mentoringTo make a referralFor more information about our delivery partnersPlease visit the Better Connect website:www.betterconnect.org.uk/our-projects/thriving-at-work/ Suzanne EusmanSuzanne.Eusman@autismplus.co.uk