The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

 

Sensory issues are common in people with autism and are even included in the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Each autistic person is unique, and this includes their personal sensory sensitivities. Autism and sensory issues People with autism might have sensitivities to: Sights Sounds Smells Tastes Touch Balance Awareness of body position and movement Awareness of internal body cues and sensations Autistic people can experience both hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) and hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness) to a wide range of stimuli. Most people have a combination of both.  Many autistic people experience hypersensitivity to bright lights or certain light wavelengths (e.g., LED or fluorescent lights). Certain sounds, smells, textures and tastes can also be overwhelming. This can result in sensory avoidance – trying to get away from stimuli that most people can easily tune out. Sensory avoidance can look like pulling away from physical touch, covering the...

This background information covers a range of references in the play. Swiss army knife The Swiss Army knife is a pocketknife, generally multi-tooled, now manufactured by Victorinox. The term "Swiss Army knife" was coined by American soldiers after World War II because they had trouble pronouncing the German word "Offiziersmesser", meaning "Officer's knife". The Swiss Army knife generally has a drop-point main blade plus other types of blades and tools, such as a screwdriver, a can opener, a saw blade, a pair of scissors, and many others. These are folded into the handle of the knife through a pivot point mechanism. The handle is traditionally a red color, with either a Victorinox or Wenger "cross" logo or, for Swiss military issue knives, the coat of arms of Switzerland. Other colors, textures, and shapes have appeared over the years. Originating in Ibach, Switzerland, the Swiss Army knife was first produced in 1891 when the Karl Elsener comp...

This background information describes all the train, including the London subway, references. Signal Point Signal Point refers to a historic, iconic railway building located next to Swindon station. It is a landmark frequently seen by passengers, with Network Rail planning to restore it as a key feature of the area. It is distinct from the functional railway infrastructure of signals and points, which are controlled by signalmen in signal boxes. British Rail British Railways (BR), which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was a state-owned company that operated most rail transport in Great Britain from 1948 to 1997. Originally a trading brand of the Railway Executive of the British Transport Commission, it became an independent statutory corporation in January 1963, when it was formally renamed the British Railways Board. British Railways was formed on January 1, 1948 as a result of the Transport Act 1947, which nationalized the Big Four British railway companies along with some other (b...

This background information covers multiple maths-related references in the play. A-level examination The A-level (Advanced Level) is a main school leaving qualification of the General Certificate of Education in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is available as an alternative qualification in other countries, where it is similarly known as an A-Level. Students generally study for A-levels over a two-year period. For much of their history, A-levels have been examined by written exams taken at the end of these two years. A more modular approach to examination became common in many subjects starting in the late 1980s, and standard for September 2000 and later cohorts, with students taking their subjects to the half-credit "AS" level after one year and proceeding to full A-level the next year (sometimes in fewer subjects). In 2015, Ofqual decided to change back to a terminal approach where students sit all examinations at the end of th...

Though not specifically named in the book or play, there is the Uplands School, a secondary special school (ages 9-16) located at The Learning Campus on Tadpole Lane, catering to students with profound and multiple learning difficulties, including autism. Uplands is a school for students aged 11 – 19 years with severe (SLD) or profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and/or Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC). Our students will often have additional complex needs. Attainment on entry for all our students is well below the national age related expectation and all our students have an Education Health and Care Plan. We recognise and celebrate each student’s individuality and ensure that we do everything we can to support the development of their knowledge and skills and provide them with experiences to prepare them for the next stage of their lives. The curriculum is ambitious and personalised to ensure that each student receives the right support at the right time to enable the...

Swindon is a town in Wiltshire, England. At the time of the 2021 census, the population of the built-up area was 183,638, making it the largest settlement in the county. Located at the northeastern edge of the South West England region, Swindon lies on the M4 corridor, 84 miles to the west of London and 36 miles (57 km) to the east of Bristol. The Cotswolds lie just to the town's north and the North Wessex Downs lie just to the town's south. Recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as Suindune, the arrival of the Great Western Railway in 1843 transformed it from a small market town of 2,500 into a thriving railway hub that would become one of the largest railway engineering complexes in the world at its peak. This brought with it pioneering amenities such as the UK's first lending library and a 'cradle-to-grave' healthcare center that was later used as a blueprint for the National Health Service (NHS). Swindon's railway heritage can be primarily seen today with the gr...