Mr. Dharragh Hunt:

In respect of the education sector specifically, we have made the point in the past that autism classrooms are built to a specific spec for sensory requirements and so on, but often the rest of the school is not. If we are trying to integrate children, therefore, where the aim is to have them in the mainstream for as much of the day as possible, that will involve bringing them into an environment that has not been designed for them. Having the autism class designed to meet their needs is fine, but it is about looking at the rest of the school as well. If the PE hall, for example, is loud, that would need to be considered. There is a more fundamental need to look at our school buildings from a universal design perspective and, in particular, from the perspective of students with autism.