The “Aut” in AutSPACEs refers to Autistic people, and the “SPACEs” is an acronym which refers to exploring - Sensory Processing for Accessible Community Environments. This captures the aim of AutSPACEs which is to make - spaces better for autistic people by learning about sensory processing and its impact.
++ The ‘Aut’ in AutSPACEs refers to autistic people, and ‘SPACEs’ is an acronym for + ‘sensory processing for accessible community environments’. This captures our aim of making + all kinds of spaces better for autistic people by learning about their sensory processing and its impact. +
-AutSPACEs is made by and for autistic people, researchers, and allies of autistic people, who think that the - world would be a much better place if autistic people had more of a say in how public and private spaces are - used and designed.
++ AutSPACEs is made by and for autistic people, researchers and allies. + We think the world would be much better if autistic people had more say + in how public and private spaces are designed and used. +
-All autistic people are different. We want to collect together lots of stories from autistic people, so that we - can - better understand how sensory processsing differences affect the way autistic people navigate the world around - them. Together, we can use this information to build a better world for autistic people.
++ Because each autistic person is unique, we want to collect as many stories as possible + to improve understanding of how sensory processing affects the way people interact with spaces. + Together, we can use this information to build a more comfortable and inclusive world. +
-There are three main goals:
+Our goals
- This section gives a brief step-by-step overview of how AutSPACEs works. - You can find more information in the participant information and + This section gives a step-by-step overview of how AutSPACEs works. You can find more information in the + participant information and help sections.
When you register you create a private and anonymous account with Open Humans. We work with Open Humans to - make sure you have control over your data and that it is safe.
-Open Humans have been working with The Alan Turing Institute to create AutSPACEs. They are a not-for-profit - organisation designed to help people access and understand their personal data, and to help them do and share - things that use that data. - - You can find out more about Open Humans on their website.
++ When you register you create a private and anonymous account with Open Humans. + We work with Open Humans to make sure you have control over your data and that it’s safe. +
++ The Alan Turing Institute has been working with Open Humans to create AutSPACEs. + It is a not-for-profit organisation designed to help people access and understand their personal data, + and to help them do and share things that use that data. You can find out more about + Open Humans on its website. +
Enter a description of how your senses affect you. For example: “I do not go on trains because they are too - loud”.
-You can choose to share your story publicly, so people using AutSPACEs can learn from it, or privately, for - research. You can also share both publicly and with researchers if you prefer.
++ Enter a description of how your senses affect you. + For example: ‘I don’t go on trains because they’re too loud.’ + Say as much or as little as you want. +
++ You can choose to share your story publicly, so people using AutSPACEs + can learn from it, or privately, for research. + You can also share both publicly and with researchers. + Or you can opt not to share at all, so only you can view it. +
If you want to make your story public, it will first be checked to make sure it follows our content moderation guidelines. - This is to keep AutSPACEs an autism-first, inclusive and welcoming space for all.
-You can view your own stories and edit them, or change who they are shared with any time, even once they are - submitted.
++ If you want to make your story public, it will first be checked to make sure it follows our content guidelines. + This is to keep AutSPACEs an autism-first, inclusive and welcoming space for all. +
++ You can view your own stories and edit them, or change who they’re shared with any time, + even once they’re submitted. +
You do not need an account to explore AutSPACEs and read other people’s stories.
++ You don’t need an account to explore AutSPACEs and read other people’s stories. +
-If you are autistic, you may find other people who have similar sense experiences to you. You can discover tips - and recommendations from them.
++ If you’re autistic, you may find other people who have similar sensory experiences to you. + You can discover tips and recommendations from them. +
-If you are not autistic, you may find ways to better support n empathise with autistic people by learning from - them how their senses affect them.
++ If you’re not autistic, you may find ways to better support and empathise with + autistic people by learning how their senses affect them. +
We will never sell your data.
++ We will never sell your data. We believe your data should belong to you, so it’s your choice what to do with it. +
We believe that your data should belong to you, so it’s your choice what to do with it.
-If you choose to share your story with researchers, your story will be part of a dataset with other people’s - experiences, and researchers outside the AutSPACEs team will have to apply to look at the dataset for the purposes of making the world better for - autistic people and their families. We will make sure that autistic people are involved in making decisions - about - who can look at the data. We have partnered with Open Humans to make sure your data is kept safe and secure. You - can make this choice by checking the box ‘share with researchers’ when you share a story.
- -If you choose to make your experience public, your experience will first be checked over by a moderator to make - sure - it follows our content moderation guidelines. We will let you know when a moderator has made a - decision about your experience. If they decide it does follow our guidelines, it will be published - anonymously - on this website. Anyone will be able to view your story, but your name will be kept private. You can make this - choice by checking the box ‘share online with everyone’.
- -If you choose not to share your experience you can still view it by going to My Stories.
- -You can also choose to share with your story with researchers and make make your story public. You can do this - by - selecting ‘share with researchers’ and ‘share online with everyone’.
- -You can also change your mind at any time by going to My Stories. and selecting which options you would - prefer.
+Sharing publicly
+ ++ If you choose to make your story public, it will first be checked by a moderator to make sure it follows our + a href="{% url 'main:content_moderation_guidelines' %}">content guidelines. + We will let you know when a moderator has made a decision. +
+ ++ If they decide it does follow our guidelines, it will be published anonymously on this website. + Anyone will be able to view your story, but your name will be kept private. + You can make this choice by checking the box ‘Share publicly on AutSPACEs website’. +
+ ++ If your story doesn’t meet our content guidelines, you’re welcome to change it, + making sure it follows them, and submit it again. +
+ ++ If you choose not to share your experience, you can still view it by going to + My stories. +
+ +Sharing for research
+ + ++ If you choose to share your story for research, it will be part of a dataset with other people’s experiences, + and researchers outside the AutSPACEs team, who want to make the world better for autistic people and their families, + will have to apply to look at the dataset. + You can make this choice by checking the box ‘Allow story to be used for research’ when you add a story. +
++ We will ensure autistic people are involved in making decisions about who can look at the data. + We have partnered with Open Humans so your data is kept safe and secure. +
++ Sharing publicly and for research +
++ You can also choose to make your story public and share it with researchers. + Do this by selecting ‘Share publicly on AutSPACEs website’ and ‘Allow story to be used for research’. +
++ It’s okay to change your mind +
++ You can change your mind at any time by going to My stories and selecting the options you would prefer. +
The AutSPACEs software itself is released under an open MIT license. This means that the code is freely available to reuse and modify for any purpose, as long as they credit the AutSPACEs community. Importantly, this does not extend to the data provided by AutSPACEs participants.
-The data we collect for researchers will only be available by application, and researchers must commit to following our values to receive approval. We are currently working on a protocol to implement this.
++ The AutSPACEs software is released under an open MIT license. + This means the code is freely available to use and modify for any purpose, + as long as the AutSPACEs community is credited. + Importantly, this does not extend to the data provided by AutSPACEs participants. +
++ The data we collect for research will be available by application only, + and researchers must commit to following our values to receive approval. + We are currently working on a protocol to implement this. +
"Nothing About Us Without Us"
-We believe that the people who will be affected most by research should have opportunities to make decisions, set the direction, and be involved in the research process throughout.
+"Nothing about us without us"
++ We believe the people who will be affected most by research should have opportunities to + make decisions, set the direction and be involved throughout. +
Allied to autistic people
-We believe that the world needs to work for autistic people so that they can flourish as well as function. We share a mission with our original sponsor Autistica for autistic people have happier, healthier, longer lives. Autism research should fundamentally serve autistic people and improve their lives.
-Your data your choice
-We believe you should have control over how your data is shared and who it is shared with. We will never sell your data
-Our Community
-This project is a collaboration between Autistica and The Alan Turing Institute. Autistica is a UK-based charity whose mission is to help autistic people and their families have long, healthy, happy lives. The Alan Turing Institute is the UK's National Institute for artificial intelligence and data science. We have partnered with Open Humans Foundation, who have helped us implement their data and consent management system for AutSPACEs.
-At the heart of the community are autistic participants, families, carers, volunteers and open source developers. This is an open project, which anyone is invited to contribute to.
++ We believe the world needs to work for autistic people so they can flourish as well as function. + We share a mission with our original funder, Autistica, for autistic people to have happier, healthier, + longer lives. Autism research should serve autistic people and improve their lives. +
+Your data, your choice
++ We believe you should have control over how your data is shared and who it’s shared with. We will never sell your data. +
+Our community
++ This project is a collaboration between Autistica and The Alan Turing Institute. + Autistica is a UK-based charity whose mission is to help autistic people and their families + have happy, healthy, long lives. + The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s National Institute for artificial intelligence and data science. +
++ We have partnered with Open Humans Foundation, which has helped us implement its data and consent management system for AutSPACEs. +
++ At the heart of our community are autistic participants, families, carers, volunteers and open source developers. This is an open project, which anyone is invited to contribute to. +