After completing more research into what autistic adults are looking for in air travel, I had a useful discussion with another student about where the project could now go.

A lot of my research has already been circling around predictability, rehearsal, sensory needs, unfamiliar airport processes and giving autistic travellers more control over their journey. I had previously explored apps, VR, interactive training and airport familiarisation, but I was still thinking that my final outcome needed to be primarily technology-based.

Talking the project through made me question this?

Technology could still be useful, but it does not necessarily need to underpin the whole experience. In fact, adding technology simply because it feels innovative could potentially create another barrier. What matters more is the experience I am trying to create and the problem it responds to.

Moving Away From “What App Should I Make?”

One idea that kept returning was airport rehearsal.

I have already researched Heathrow’s physical familiarisation programme, Gold Coast’s visual and virtual preparation, and YVR’s interactive travel training. My own questionnaire responses are also beginning to identify situations involving security, navigation, crowds, waiting, changes and unfamiliar procedures.

This made me realise that rather than designing another information resource, I could potentially create an experience where autistic adults can practise parts of international air travel before actually travelling.

The format could be portable rather than requiring someone to visit an airport. It could potentially travel to autism organisations, neurodivergent community groups or other appropriate adult settings.

My Sister's Role

We also discussed how I could continue involving my sister throughout development.

I initially wondered whether this should be described as co-design, but I realised that full co-design would involve much broader shared ownership of the research and design process.

Instead, I think her involvement could work as a mini pilot / active participant within the design-development process.

For example, I could show her realistic airport scenarios and investigate:

• what she notices first
• what makes her uncomfortable or uncertain
• what she wants explained
• what information she needs
• what she would want to practise
• how she responds to different ways of presenting information.

My wider questionnaire research provides a broader range of autistic perspectives, while working more closely with my sister could provide greater depth and lived-experience insight.

Initial Reflection

This conversation helped me realise that the individual pieces of the project may already have been pointing towards the same thing.

I have researched familiarisation, interactive rehearsal, Social Stories, sensory environments, security, predictability, visual communication and personalised support.

Rather than these being separate potential outcomes, perhaps they can become ingredients within one experience.

The question may no longer be “What piece of technology should I design?” but “How could I allow an autistic adult to safely rehearse an unfamiliar airport journey before they have to experience it for real?”