Our funding meant that staff could experience the daily issues autistic people face on a specially adapted bus.

As part of Learning Disability Week, the bus visited our hospital sites so colleagues could have an autism reality experience using immersive, hands-on training.

Hellen Odiembo, lead nurse specialist for learning disability and autism said: “It’s been developed to give non-autistic people the experience of sensory processing difficulties faced by people on the autism spectrum.

“The three-hour course is delivered on a mobile simulator and can take up to 12 staff per course.

“The training will help to reduce the risk of re-admission to autistic patients, and reduce the challenging behaviour presented when staff cannot see from their perspective.”