The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

People living with autism have particular sensory needs that must be addressed by the spaces that they inhabit- this sensitivity to their needs will enhance their quality of life mentally, physically, and socially.  Because of the climbing rate of those with autism, more built facilities are needed to provide a sensitive environment for the wide variety of sensory, social, environmental, behavioral, and communicative needs of those with ASD.  For these reasons, it is important to scrutinize the facilities being used as group homes today and formulate a how they can be improved and modified to meet the needs of the autistic population.  They should contribute to and control their environment and community, not have their community and environment adversely control them.  In this way, those on the spectrum who have the capacity and desire for building on their strengths and finding comfort, dignity, and security in their environment will be able to maximize independence.  In partnership with the in,, Mackey Mitchell Architects has taken the steps necessary to produce a housing prototype that incorporates the ideas behind sustainability, Universal/accessible Design principles, and university housing experience to create the ideal place of residence for someone on the autism spectrum to live. Our ultimate goal is to discover how someone with ASD can shape their environment to reach their highest levels of personal goals.  These homes hope to enhance the users’ experience and allow them to flourish in their environment.

Universal Design:  Creating a home for people of all abilities, while integrating it into the community

A main strategy to consider for increasing human dignity and enhancing user experience are the principles of Universal Design.  The incorporation of Universal Design theories is necessary because it goes above and beyond the minimum accessible requirements of accessible building codes to consider the physical and mental comfort and accommodation for anyone, regardless of skill or perception of space.  Because special needs or physical abilities accompany autism disorders, it is crucial to include these elements for the success of a group home/single family dwelling, which in turn can affect the success of the its inhabitant not only in the way the space is defined, but also how the space is perceived and used.

Of the many elements that are considered in Universal Design, the main theories demand attention to acoustics, finishes, colors, textures, way-finding, scale, floor transitions, ramps/general accessibility standards, security, and glare.  All of these are factors that need to be addressed as they relate to people with ASD’s heightened cognitive and sensory sensitivities

Sustainability:  Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Increasing Human Comfort

It has been argued that those on the autism spectrum are more susceptible to toxins in the environment than a neuron-typical person and that those toxins are what have caused the damage to their developing brains.  The principles of creating sustainable (environmentally friendly) architecture strongly correlates with these theories and will be incorporated into our housing prototype.  Though there is not strong evidence to responsibility of environmental toxins for contributing to or causing autism, there is no time to waste, the time to act is now. 

One thing that we know for sure is that those with ASD are extremely sensitive to thermal changes, textures, lighting intensity, strong smells, visual transitions, visual noise (patterns, etc.), glare, and any other distractions that affect the senses.  By using sustainable strategies and practices in group and independent living homes we will be able to increase human comfort, happiness, and health because there are fewer physical and mental distractions.  Using sustainable strategies will also allow building inhabitants to feel a psychological and physical connection to the outside environment.  These strategies include visual connections to the outdoors (daylight and views), increase air ventilation, and controllability of systems, which leads to better indoor air quality, increased human comfort, and an overall reduction in toxins.  Special attention will also be paid to interior materials—low VOC/urea-formaldehyde paints, glues, and other materials will be used instead of the typical off-gassing materials used in typical homes.  Post-occupancy studies have shown that these strategies contribute to cost savings and overall occupant health and happiness for neuron-typical people.  Just imagine the positive outcomes when it applying these principles to homes being occupied by those on the spectrum.  

Residential Housing:  Creating a Sense of Community and Security

Mackey Mitchell Architects' housing portfolio includes an impressive 15,000 beds for university housing, and two consecutive years of being awarded the Juror’s Choice Award for Collegiate Housing in the 21^st Century design competition.  We know what works in student communities and how to work with organizations to ensure the sense of security, independence, and community that will be induced by these projects.  We have become experts in the field of creating unit plans that comply with accessible standards, which in turn increase the ease of use for the unit’s inhabitants.  This experience is vital, as it cultivates independent habits, confidence, and promotes social contact in people with ASD.  As we have seen from current typical housing developments, this sense of community has been lost.  In this way it is vital for the development of adults with ASD to live in a neighborhood where community-building spaces have been incorporated into the neighborhood.  This will allow them to try and overcome their greatest obstacle—social interaction.  This could bring occupants meaningful relationships and thus a greater quality of life.

Conclusion

The strategies mentioned above are part of a recipe needed for the successful independent living for adults with autism.  They have been proven to be successful for the neuro-typical population, imagine the benefits that could be reaped by those living with autism. Increasing independence in an adult with ASD will create quality of life and a life with dignity—which goes hand in hand with the ideas of sustainability, Universal Design, and shaping communities.  And thus, these prototypes can create an environment that allows someone with ASD to reach their fullest potential and reveal their hidden abilities.  The issue of adult housing for those on the spectrum is not only important to those ages 21 or older living with autism and their families, it is important to the tens of thousands of children being diagnosed with ASD everyday.  Our already overwhelmed system will soon be flooded with more clients with special needs and strategies must be put into place to ensure successful living environments for all those in need.  Because 1 in 4 people are diagnosed with a spectrum disorder everyday, it is not just important to help this specific group of people adjust to their environment, it is important to the human race. 

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