Autism spectrum condition and the built environment (original) (raw)
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Promoting learning and social experiences of people with autism spectrum disorders in the museums.
International Conference "Quality of Life in People with Intellectual Disabilities Including Autism: Advances in Practice and Research". 19-20 May 2023. University of Macedonia, Laboratory of Autism. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities. British Society for Developmental Disabilities. Book of Abstracts, 2023
The present study focuses on the case of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and examines challenges and perspectives for inclusive and meaningful learning experiences in museums based on the interactive nature of museum experience and learning in conjunction with the diverse cognitive, social and learning characteristics of people with ASD.
Built Environment Design and People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Scoping Review
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
Built environment design can be considered as an influential factor in the quality of life of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This scoping review provides an overview of the current available literature on the relationship between people with ASD and built environment in the specific field of the design of autism-friendly spaces. The literature review allowed the identification of three main factors to be considered when designing for people with ASD—the sensory quality, the intelligibility, and the predictability of the built environment—and, for each of them, a description of the spatial requirements that have been recognized as fundamental according to the specific spatial needs of people with ASD.
Inclusion, 2016
This study aims to add to the body of knowledge on the experiences of families of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with the goal of promoting increased participation in community activities. Five factors associated with participation in activities at an art museum were explored, comparing families of children with and without ASD. These factors included both children's frequency of participation and parents' perceptions of the importance of community activities. The differences between groups were statistically significant. Parents of children without ASD reported their children's frequency of participation in museum activities was three times more than parents of children with ASD. Parents of children with ASD reported experiencing three times as many negative emotions associated with museum activities than parents of children without ASD.
Finding Museum Visitors with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Will Art Help In The Search?
Museum and Society
Visiting a museum can be a tremendously stressful event for families that include children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The goal of this research study was to find what concerns families have when visiting a museum, if there are any intervention materials caregivers prefer, to examine behaviors of children with ASD while in the museum, and to see if an art-making activity after the museum visit could be directly tied to the museum experience. Results indicated that museums continue to be stressful for families, and parents would like materials to help reduce anxiety in their children before and during the visit. While in the museum, parents tried to focus their children’s attention on interesting things, but many children became overly excited and desired spaces within the museum to be more active. Art-making after the museum visit allowed children to reflect back on what they saw and did during their experience.
Autism and engagement with material culture
Interdisciplinary Science Reviews , 2021
Autism spectrum conditions are widely characterized as a cognitive difference which affects social understanding and behaviour. However, evidence increasingly suggests that the condition also affects engagement with material aspects of the environment. Here we review research into how autism affects engagement with the material world. We argue that, whilst there are important distinctions, autism affects perception of the social and material world in similar ways. Furthermore, a subtly different engagement with the material world can bring certain advantages and social contributions. We discuss implications for future research and for inclusion.
Autism and Architecture: The Importance of a Gradual Spatial Transition
Athens Journal of Architecture, 2022
The research in the following paper is developed in collaboration with the noprofit organization "Università per i Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico" (UDSA), active on the issue of the role of surrounding environment in the educational process of neuro-atypical young adults. Even though, wide range of population is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the literature primarily refers to childhood period of neuro-atypical individuals. The study explores how Architecture could help young adults with ASD to become more independent and discover their capabilities reducing environmental obstacles. The Autism Spectrum presents a wide range of cases and hues that does not permit the use of general guidelines for the design process, on the contrary, it requires taking into consideration the variety of attitude toward the surrounding environment. Therefore, the paper interrogates the methodological framework of Architecture to tackle the complexity of the design challenge with a trans-disciplinary approach; a variety of figures, outside architecture discipline, were involved in the research. An adaptive method has been used, based more on Greek idea of metis, the ability to take advantage of circumstances rather than using the Platonic notion of "eidos", which referred to a determined pattern, to face the multifaceted aspects of the phenomenon. 1 The study resulted in an Architectural project for The University of Autism Spectrum Disorder, in which the strategy of Gradient defines the spaces based on their intensity, activity and frequency. By considering weaknesses and insufficiency that has emerged during the research period, this paper proposes a lucid theory of the design process integrated with contradictory aspects of the spectrum.
Inclusion and wellbeing for people with autism and the role of built environment
AUBEA 2017: Australasian Universities Building Education Association Conference 2017, 2017
Autism Spectrum Conditions are neurological disorders which make inclusion in society very difficult for the affected individuals. The main challenges that people with autism face are related to sensory processing disorders, communication difficulties and restricted repetitive patterns of behaviour. Current methods for integrating people with autism focus primarily on equipping autistic individuals with the tools to tolerate circumstances that they might find uncomfortable in social day-to-day situations. The society’s response to accommodating the condition is usually restricted to improving access to selected spaces which often have limited functionality and give the autistic narrow margins for physical and intellectual development. The paper shows the preliminary results of a qualitative meta-analysis of the extant literature relating to societal aspects that need to be taken into account when considering the integration of people with autism. Also, employing the same methodology, the study explores the way in which built environment can have a contribution to the integration of people with autism and the degree to which inclusive physical space represents a positive factor to an autistic individual’s subjective wellbeing and quality of life.