据世界卫生组织（WHO）估计，全球每 100 名儿童中就有 1 名患有自闭症。在美国，美国疾病控制和预防中心（CDC）在 2023 年 3 月的最新研究中发现，每 36 名 8 岁儿童中就有 1 名患有自闭症，占总人口的 2.8%。
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that globally, 1 in every 100 children has autism. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified – as of March 2023, the latest update of their study – 1 in every 36 8-year-old children as autistic, which accounts for 2.8% of their population.
在喧闹的街道或拥挤的公交车上感到不知所措。看不懂警告标志或交通指示。突如其来的公交线路改道或地铁站施工带来的压力或焦虑。这些情况都可能转化为重大障碍，促使我们以更无障碍、更具包容性的方式重新思考城市设计，以确保自闭症谱系的人不会与城市生活隔绝，而是能够享受城市生活。
Feeling overwhelmed by the noise of a busy street or the commotion of a crowded bus. Not understanding warning signs or traffic directions. The stress or anxiety of an unexpected bus route diversion or when there is construction work at a metro station. These situations can translate into significant obstacles that should prompt us to rethink urban design in a more accessible and inclusive way to ensure that individuals on the autism spectrum do not become isolated from urban life and, instead, can enjoy it.
城市生活对自闭症患者有哪些挑战？
What are the challenges of urban life for autistic individuals?
自闭症（ASD）是一种影响沟通、社交和行为等方面的神经发育疾病。自闭症患者通常会有感官障碍、理解非口头语言方面的问题，以及适应环境变化方面的挑战。因此，与城市生活相关的各种情况以及在城市中移动所涉及的动态变化都会给他们带来困难。
Autism (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects aspects such as communication, social interaction, and behaviour. Individuals with autism often experience sensory difficulties, problems understanding nonverbal language, and challenges in adapting to changes in their environment. Therefore, different situations related to city life and the dynamics involved in moving around cities can present difficult situations.
通常情况下，地铁站、火车站和机场等城市环境往往嘈杂、拥挤、视觉复杂或令人不知所措。嘈杂的噪音、明亮的灯光和强烈的气味都可能导致自闭症患者感官超负荷，从而引发焦虑甚至感官危机。
Often, urban environments like metro or train stations and airports tend to be noisy, crowded, and visually complex or overwhelming. Loud noises, bright lights, and intense smells can cause sensory overload in individuals with autism, leading to anxiety or even sensory crises.
你有多少次因为看不懂地图，或者因为路标复杂或不清晰而在城市中迷路？自闭症患者可能在解读非语言信号或理解地图和交通标志方面存在困难。标识的不清晰和路线的复杂性会导致他们在城市中穿梭困难，增加迷路或迷失方向的风险，甚至需要依赖他人才能到达目的地。
How many times have you gotten lost in a city because you couldn’t interpret a map or due to the complexity or lack of clarity of signage? Individuals with autism may have difficulty interpreting nonverbal signals or understanding maps and traffic signs. This lack of clarity in signage and the complexity of routes can lead to difficulties in navigating the city, increasing the risk of getting lost or feeling disoriented, and even relying on others to get around.
这条街在哪里？我应该在这一站下车吗？乘坐公共交通工具经常会涉及到社交互动，例如问路、买票或回答其他乘客的问题。这些情况可能会给许多自闭症患者带来压力，他们可能会发现很难处理这些自发的互动。
Where is this street? Is this the stop where I should get off? Using public transportation often involves social interactions, such as asking for directions, buying tickets, or responding to other passengers’ questions. These situations can be sources of stress for many autistic individuals, who may find it difficult to manage these spontaneous interactions.
自闭症患者通常偏好常规生活，对变化的适应能力可能是一个挑战，因此他们可能会对突如其来的变化感到不适。在城市交通中，交通延误、无法预测的长龙、街道工程或事故导致的意外路线改道、航班取消以及其他意外事件都可能给自闭症患者带来困扰、迷失方向、焦虑和/或压力。
Individuals with autism often prefer routines, and adaptability to changes can be a challenge, so they may feel uncomfortable with unexpected changes. In urban mobility, transportation delays, long and unpredictable queues, unexpected route diversions due to street works or incidents, flight cancellations, and other unforeseen events can cause distress, disorientation, anxiety, and/or stress.
包容性城市设计如何确保更美好的城市生活？
How can inclusive urban design ensure a better urban life?
城市是实现一体化的绝佳机会。"城市是人们过现代生活的首选之地，这在很大程度上是因为人们重视城市生活、机会、社会交往、短距离内的多种用途以及各种形式的邻近性。城市是郊区与世隔绝的解毒剂，也是在封闭的胶囊中避难和在汽车中度过孤立时光的解毒剂。对于神经变异者来说，城市是一个巨大的机遇，但仅有这些融合所必需的属性是不够的，尤其是对于神经变异者来说，他们还面临着独立和充实的成人生活的额外挑战。城市规划师阿尔瓦罗-加西亚-雷斯塔（Álvaro García Resta）是马诺洛（Manolo）的父亲，马诺洛六年前被诊断患有自闭症。
Cities are a fantastic opportunity for integration. “Cities are the chosen territory for people to live modern life, and this is largely due to the value placed on urban life, opportunities, social interaction, multiple uses in short distances; and proximity, in all its forms. Cities are the antidote to suburban isolation, to the refuge in closed capsules and hours spent in a car, also isolated. Cities are a huge opportunity for neurodivergent individuals, but these attributes, necessary for integration, are not enough, especially for neurodivergent individuals, who have the additional challenge of independent and fulfilling adult life. This is why those of us who design and intervene in cities have the enormous challenge of making them more friendly and inclusive,” says Álvaro García Resta, urban planner and father of Manolo, diagnosed with ASD six years ago.
以下是在进行城市设计时需要考虑的几个方面，以确保自闭症患者享受城市生活，并改善社区的流动性：
Below are some aspects to consider to approaching an urban design that ensures the enjoyment of urban life and better mobility for the community within the autism spectrum:
包容性设计
Inclusive design
第一步，也是最基本的一步，是以使用城市及其交通系统的人的多样性为中心进行设计。在设计与人的互动系统时，必须考虑到神经系统异常的个体。这种适应必须是全面的，这样神经畸形者就不需要单独负责不断进行调整。
The first and fundamental step is to start with a design centred on the diversity of people using cities and their mobility systems. The interaction system with people must be designed in a way that includes individuals with neurodivergent conditions. This adaptation must be comprehensive so that neurotypical individuals are not solely responsible for making constant adjustments.
从一开始就以包容的方式设计结构、服务和环境，可以确保全体市民都能得到关注和融入。他们的经验、挑战和观点，以及在城市环境中面临困境的父母的经验、挑战和观点，可以为规划更无障碍、更友好的交通提供宝贵的信息，从而实现更友好的城市生活。
Designing structures, services, and environments from an inclusive approach from the beginning, could ensure that the entirety of the citizenry is attended to and integrated. The experiences, challenges, and perspectives of them, as well as those of the parents facing difficult situations in the urban environment, can provide valuable information for planning more accessible and friendly mobility that enables a more friendly urban life.
例如，在设计城市空间和交通系统时考虑到自闭症患者的感官需求，可以在机场、火车站和地铁站设立安静区域，减少某些地方的噪音或强光，使用象形图、感官指南等，在某些情况下也可以帮助其他人。
For example, considering the design of urban spaces and transportation systems that take into account the sensory needs of people with ASD could result in the creation of quiet areas in airports, train and subway stations, the reduction of noise or intense lights in certain places, the implementation of pictograms, sensory guides, among other things that could also help other people in certain situations.
清晰易懂的标识
Clear and understandable signage
设置清晰易懂的标识有助于更好地引导城市和空间。使用象形图和对比色可以使标识更易于理解。例如，爱丁堡机场提供的社会故事有助于提高可预测性，减少意外情况的发生。一些公交线路，如阿根廷的 85 号线，正在采用象形标识，以确保交流和认知的无障碍性。
Implementing clear and easily understandable signage can help better navigate the city and spaces. The use of pictograms and contrasting colours can make signs more accessible. Edinburgh Airport, for instance, provides social stories that help with predictability and reduce the unexpected. Some bus lines, such as line 85 in Argentina, are incorporating pictographic signage to ensure communicational and cognitive accessibility.
员工培训
Staff training
对公共交通和相关服务人员进行培训至关重要：司机、安保人员和其他员工必须接受培训，以了解自闭症患者的需求并提供适当的支持。在一些地方摆放感官玩具，帮助自闭症患者缓解压力或在紧张状态后进行调节，这种做法成本低且易于实施。
Training public transportation and associated services personnel is essential: drivers, security staff, and other employees must be trained to understand the needs of people with autism and provide appropriate support. Having sensory toys in places, which help alleviate stress or help them regulate after a tense situation, is a practice that costs little and is easy to implement.
辅助技术
Assistive technology
移动应用程序或其他技术可以成为帮助他们浏览城市的重要工具。提供逐步导航、服务变更提醒、个性化路线或可视化解释的应用程序可以减轻焦虑，提高独立性。
Mobile apps or other technologies can be valuable tools to help them navigate the city. Apps that provide step-by-step directions, alerts about service changes, personalised routes, or a visual explanation of all this can reduce anxiety and improve independence.
智慧城市的出现整合了物联网、人工智能和数据分析等先进技术，为提高自闭症患者的生活质量提供了一条大有可为的途径。这些城市可以实施感官友好型基础设施，如更安静的公共空间、可调节的照明和实时人群监控，以减少感官超负荷。此外，智能技术还能提供个性化的导航辅助工具，确保公共交通的安全和无障碍。通过整合智能家居系统，自闭症患者可以获得更大的独立性和自主性，在辅助技术的帮助下管理自己的日常生活。
The advent of smart cities, integrating advanced technologies like IoT, AI, and data analytics, offers a promising avenue to enhance the quality of life for autistic individuals. These cities can implement sensory-friendly infrastructure, such as quieter public spaces, adjustable lighting, and real-time crowd monitoring to reduce sensory overload. Additionally, smart technologies can provide personalised navigation aids, ensuring safe and accessible public transportation. Through the integration of smart home systems, individuals with autism can gain greater independence and autonomy, managing their daily routines with the help of assistive technologies.
作者 | Lucía Burbano
标题 | 《 PRACTICAL APPROACH FOR CREATING AUTISM FRIENDLY URBAN ENVIRONMENTS》
Tomorrow.Observatory | 明日观察#69
Tomorrow.Observatory | 明日观察#68
