Designing for Autism Spectrum Disorders

by Kristi Gaines, Angela Bourne, Michelle Pearson

Winner of the 2017 IDEC Book Award, 2017 EDRA Great Places Award (Book Category), 2017 American Society of Interior Designers Joel Polsky Prize and the 2016 International Interior Design Association TXOK Research Award Designing for Autism Spectrum Disorders explains the influence of the natural and man-made environment on individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other forms of intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). Drawing on the latest research in the fields of environmental psychology and education, the authors show you how architecture and interior spaces can positively influence individuals with neurodiversities by modifying factors such as color, lighting, space organization, textures, acoustics, and ventilation. Now you can design homes, therapeutic environments, work environments, and outdoor spaces to encourage growth and learning for the projected 500,000 children with ASD (in the United States alone) who are expected to reach adulthood by 2024. Topics discussed
-Environmental design theories
-Symptoms of ASD
-Sensory processing deficits
-Design needs of individuals on the spectrum at all ages
-Design methods and solutions for spaces, including residential, learning, work, and therapeutic environments encompassing a wide range of budgets
-Designing for self-actualization, well-being, and a high quality of life for the duration of an individual's life
-Avenues for healthy living and aging in place
-Biophilic design
-Environmental impact on well-being
-Strategies to promote active living as an integral part of the welfare focus.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder

232 pages, Hardcover

First published August 4, 2016

Reviews

[Andrea Salgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete guide!

“Designing for ASD” is a very complete (that is something, considering the lack of information about the topic) guide that can be applied to multiple settings and that serves to design keeping in mind inclusion as a main purpose. The book considers what ASD is, multiple theories in order to understand this population, different design approaches that exist nowadays regarding design for ASD, practical ideas classified with detail and very helpful examples of applied designed.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering when this was written, it has a decent amount of factual information and helpful things to consider when designing for those on the spectrum.

[Chelsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a class