This is what life feels like if you have autism.

I bet you just said, “Whoa,” too.

Steve Cope, director at Rattling Stick, The National Autistic Society (NAS) and Grand Central sound designer, Munzie Singh Thind, got together to create the 70 second film that mimics the rather nasty experience of sensory sensitivity that a person with autism experiences on a daily basis. Of all the campaigns launched during World Autism Awareness Month, this is the one that achieves the aim.

The film opens with the hollow repetitive echo of a dripping tap. Accompanied by a siren sound, ticking clocks and steady barks from a dog, it becomes a chorus of abstract noises that increases in intensity over the background of a simple everyday scene. By using the audio view as the main storyteller, the sound allows the viewer to understand the sensory experiences of people who have autism.

Thind explained the project: “The great thing about this project, from a sound design point of view, was that I was brought in at the start of the creative process. I felt it was vital to start by researching the experiences of people with autism, so that I could strive to put myself in their shoes and create something that would truly reflect the challenges they face every day.

“Instead of aiming for the beautiful, I wanted a soundscape that was really annoying. The sounds were looped and manipulated to disrupt the listener. By doing this we wanted to make them feel uncomfortable and alien – the repetitive and atonal audio is meant to strike a chord with the audience, communicating the message in an unnerving manner.

“I messed with the tempo of recorded and library sounds to add that arresting factor. In order to achieve a stark contrast with the rest of the film, I cut it dead at the end to surprise the viewer, as the film cuts to a shot of Chile, who has autism in real life.”

Dave Boorman, head of supporter fundraising at the NAS, added, “Rattling Stick has done something amazing for autism by pledging their support and making this brilliant film for us. It really is humbling to see the hard work that NAS supporters put into creating a better world for people with autism. Without supporters like Rattling Stick and The News, we wouldn’t be able to continue our work supporting people affected by the disability and helping them to lead the life they choose. This film is extremely powerful and I am sure it will make a real difference in helping us to raise as much awareness as we can for autism and the NAS.”

You just agreed, didn’t you?