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The Visual Comfort Project

In this project, we are finding out what things autistic and non-autistic children find comfortable and uncomfortable to look at. This will help us make places (like schools) and materials more comfortable.

Who can take part in this project?

We are looking for children aged 6 to 14 years who:

  • have an autism diagnosis OR

  • have no diagnosed developmental conditions (e.g., autism, ADHD, dyslexia).

Children with epilepsy or migraine cannot take part, to avoid seizures and migraines.

What does this study involve?

  • Children will be asked to look at images (at the University of Birmingham OR online) and rate how comfortable they are.

  • Parents will fill in some questionnaires.

  • Everything will take under 2 hours.

  • You may be invited back for a second study about how your child’s brain, heart and eyes respond to images.

  • Families taking part at the University will receive a certificate, a summary of the visual information their child found comfortable/ uncomfortable, a £10 voucher and travel costs.

  • Families taking part online (only possible for children aged 9-14) have the chance of winning a £25 voucher.

  • Children can stop taking part at any time.

  • Parents can remove their and their child’s data before analysis begins, by contacting the researchers.

More information about taking part

These webpages are intended to give more information for children and their parents/guardians who are considering taking part in the study. Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs). You will also find our information sheets and consent forms in a range of formats for accessibility (audio-recorded, large print, coloured backgrounds). If you need the information in any other format, please contact the researchers.

How to register your interest or ask questions

If you have any questions about the project, or if you’d like to take part, please contact Dr Sam Tyler (s.l.tyler@bham.ac.uk) or Dr Cathy Manning (c.manning@bham.ac.uk). You can also express your interest in taking part in this study using this short expression of interest form. The researchers will then be in touch with more details. By getting in touch, you are not committing to take part in the study.

This project has received ethical approval from the University of Birmingham STEM Ethics Committee (ref: ERN_3515).