Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month, an opportunity to accept autism and embrace the accommodations needed to create an accessible society for all.
Everyone experiences sensory sensitivity at times. However, for many autistic and neurodiverse individuals, sensory overwhelm is a persistent challenge. It can render everyday activities, such as attending school, visiting the supermarket, working in an office, or even going to the library, feel daunting or impossible. This can significantly impact their daily routines and overall quality of life.
Our Library Quiet Hours began a year ago this month as a part of Hoods Up Volume Down, an initiative started by Autism NZ to encourage everyone to turn down the lights, turn down the noise and turn up for the autistic community.
At City, Mosgiel, and South Dunedin libraries we turned down bright, harsh overhead lights where possible and lowered the volume on screens, checkout kiosks, and phones. Offering a low sensory experience at the libraries was just as enjoyable for staff as it was for customers!
We had an enthusiastic response from Ōtepoti’s neurodiverse community, as well as members of the public who appreciated the quiet and calm atmosphere that washed over the libraries for an hour. The feedback was clear - this needed to be a regular event in our calendar.
Fast forward a year and City, Mosgiel, and South Dunedin have a weekly quiet hour between 1pm and 2pm, timed to align with other well-known quiet hours across businesses and organisations around the city to support people wanting to make a low sensory day of it.
This year, Hoods Up Volume Down is taking place on Wednesday 2 April, calling for businesses, workplaces, schools, and organisations to participate in a national ‘quiet hour’ at 10am. We’ll be holding our Library Quiet Hours at their usual time from 1pm, but we’re so excited to see others getting involved, turning down the lights, turning down the noise, and turning up for the autistic community.
Low sensory and quiet hours around Dunedin - Otago Poltechnic