Stim Joy: Using Multi-Sensory Design to Foster Better Understanding of the Autistic Experience

Repetitive self-stimulation, or stimming, is a part of ordinary human behavior, regardless of neurotype. Despite this, autistic stimming behavior is disproportionally discouraged in comparison to neurotypical stimming despite being an essential emotional regulation tool for this population. Stim Joy explores disability as a social construct formed by cultural shortcomings that fail to support disabled people, and how multi-sensory graphic design centered on first-hand play-learning experiences serves to address these shortcomings. Designing educational 3D printed stimming toys, augmented reality experiences, and animated content that engage multiple senses offers the opportunity for audiences to create a more richly detailed semantic understanding of the topic than can be achieved through traditional 2D design media. Delivering this in the form of first-hand play-learning experiences affords audiences a low-stakes environment in which they can challenge preconceived notions and internalized stigma in order to learn and address the cultural shortcomings that contribute to the debilitating nature of disability as a social construct.