Spectrum
“Get to know someone on the spectrum and your life will truly be blessed” by Stephanie L Parker. Let’s talk about some individuals who are different, who are suffering because of the way society is treating them, and not because they are diagnosed with a developmental disorder. Yes, Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition where there is a delink between the brain and the behavior (sensory integration, that is the ability to touch, smell, taste, hear, speak, etc.). It can be diagnosed at the age of 2. Such individuals have trouble with speech, attention, sleep, and motor skills, and sometimes go through anxiety and depression. This disorder directly hits all five senses, but not every diagnosed person must suffer all the problems associated with all 5 senses. It is different for every individual. In India, around 18 million people are diagnosed with autism, according to a survey of 2023. Also, there are very few schools that support this condition of a child and help them develop emotionally, mentally, physically as well as academically. Indian society should be inclusive enough to understand the requirement of a better education system and space for such students who are different but not less in any way.
Special Design Features
Autistic children are hypersensitive and could easily get triggered by color, sound, spaces, etc. in their surroundings. The National Autism Association has chosen “Blue” as the color of support and understanding as well as to create awareness amongst people about the disorder. For designing an education centre for autistic children, multiple factors should be kept in mind. Starting with spatial sequencing where spaces have to be organized in a logical order based on the scheduled use of the spaces instead of functional. Easy, simple, and straight navigations are recommended. Minimizing the use of busy patterns and grids just to put eyes out of clutter. Another important factor is sensory zoning where spaces are organized on their stimulus levels with transition zones. To understand, consider- music, arts, crafts, psychomotor therapy, etc. activities under high-stimulus functions. Whereas low-stimulus functions or high-focus areas like speech therapy rooms, general classrooms, etc. have to have a transition zone in between acting as a breather to recalibrate the senses as children move from one space to another. These transition spaces can be sensory gardens, sound escapes, green walls, etc. Other spaces to be included are giveaway spaces where the diagnosed individual may have rest and interact with their fears in a controlled environment. Out of all the above factors, what matters the most is the sensory zoning that includes compartmentalization, which says to define and limit the sensory environment of each activity, that is organizing spaces and compartments or sensory cells. The point is, that the sensory qualities of each space should be used to define its function and separate it from its neighboring compartment.
While designing and crafting a comfortable space for autistic children, color theory and lighting play a crucial role. Children with sensory problems are more sensitive to light than others. Therefore, indirect lighting is advised to use, for example, pelmet lighting, recessed dimmable lights, etc. Color Reflective Index (CRI) should be 90 and Correlated Color Temperature value has to be 2700 to 3500 Kelvin (warm white). Also, natural light can be incorporated via glass windows until they are beneficial to the user and do not disturb him or her. Fluorescent light is not advised as it flickers and produces a humming sound that can cause irritation, tantrums, pain, etc. in a child. 85% of ASD children perceive colours more intensely, thus duller colors with white and grey undertones have a calming effect on them. Pale pink has been nominated as the favorite colour of autistic children. Cool colours such as blue-green also have a calming and soothing effect. Primary and bright colours orange, yellow, and red must be limited to the toys or can be used with hues of blue or green, but never individually. The overall agenda of this exercise is to design a barrier-free space for ASD children who can walk freely anywhere and everywhere in and around the school without any assistance. Hand-rails, ramps, hand-grabs, stairs, pavements, and checkered tiles, etc. can be used to indicate sudden changes in the floor level or to create a caution in the child while walking and to boost their confidence that they are independent.
Society has to accept the fact that there are a variety of people in this world who are sharing this beautiful planet with them. Treating everyone with respect, dignity, compassion and a touch of humanity will bring good to everyone. Social support should uplift the living standard of an individual so that he/she becomes grateful for their birth regardless of any condition they are facing. Life is too short to be lived. Better not waste it due to other’s opinions that will never matter once you are gone.
Online sources:
Citations for websites:
Magda Mostafa (2021). The Autism Friendly Design Guide. [online]. Available at: https://issuu.com/magdamostafa/docs/the_autism_friendly_design_guide [Accessed 30 Oct 2024].
Magda Mostafa (2014). Architecture for Autism Aspectss in School Design. [online]. Available at: https://www.academia.edu/33738642/ARCHITECTURE_FOR_AUTISM_Autism_ASPECTSS_in_School_Design [Accessed 30 Oct 2024].
