A Cumbrian autism support company is asking the public for help in developing its new sensory toolbox project.

The project, by Aupeer – a Carlisle-based CIC that provides peer-informed services for and by autistic adults – seeks the development of these sensory toolboxes to be used by neurodivergent people using waiting areas while accessing health and wellbeing appointments, such as GP surgeries or opticians.

These boxes will contain various objects, known as stimming tools, which are often used by autistic people to help cope with stress.

Such stimming tools could be but are not limited to, fidget cubes and spinners, tangles, bubble pop toys, and squishy toys.

Charlotte Rutherford, managing director at Aupeer, said: “Aupeer is autistic-led.

“We are all neurodivergent adults who have had negative experiences of waiting for appointments in areas that are noisy, busy, and overwhelming.

“Coupled with the other stressors that come with attending appointments this can be really difficult to cope with.

“The experience and anticipation of being in such an environment have at times led to avoidance of important healthcare and wellbeing appointments.

“We'd like to develop a free-to-use Aupeer sensory toolbox which organisations and health care services can keep in their waiting areas.

“At Aupeer everything we do is guided by the lived experience of our peers.

“We need the help of our peers to inform us as to what challenges they face in waiting areas and the tools they’d like to see in the toolbox, such as stimming tools or ear defenders.

“The toolboxes would be for use by anyone experiencing sensory and environmentally generated challenges while waiting for or during appointments, but we’d like to hear from neurodivergent adults in particular.

“Responses will be used to shape how this project develops.

“I know this won’t revolutionise access to healthcare for our community, but our hope is that having access to our toolbox will help peers to access services with more ease.

“Having an Aupeer sensory toolbox is a great way for services to demonstrate that they are truly inclusive and want to support neurodivergent people.”

Aupeer asks that people let them know their thoughts by emailing, sending a video, sending photos of useful items or of challenges experienced to hello@aupeer.org.uk, commenting on their social media posts about the project, or completing the survey, accessible by clicking here.