UDDA

Universal Design – Design for Autism

 Friday 0ctober 3rd 208 - PHL -congress  Hasselt

Apart from impairments in social interaction and communication, children with autism are very sensitive to the surrounding environment. This means that an ill-designed environment can have dramatic effects on the behaviour of these children. On the other hand, because these environments can have profound effects on the thoughts and behaviour of these children, designers have the opportunity to come up with learning environments that play a supporting role in the education and development of these children.  

Universal Design or ‘Inclusive Design for All’ is a new design strategy aimed at the systematic elimination of handicap-situations in human-made environments. It is the academic and professional answer to the societal need for accessible, functional but also aesthetic human-made environments. In order to explore the architectural constraints concerning the learning environment of children with autism this workshop is organised.

 

This exploration will be framed within the global discussion on Universal Design versus Design for Specific Needs.

 

 

Focus group 

summary

 

Coordination

Paul Himschoot ( Auctores vzw)

 

Making sense in a fragmentary world. Perception in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 

Prof. dr. Ilse Noens

Is assistant professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the KU-Leuven Belgium and visiting researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston (USA). Former assistant professor in Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies at the Leiden University in the Netherlands.  

power point presentation

 

Universal Design (and autism) 

Prof. drs. Hubert Froyen

Is professor in architecture at the University College Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg, and initiator of the Belgian Universal Design Education Project  

power point presentation

 

Evaluation of the impact of autism specific accommodation on children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) 

Teresa Whitehurst

Research and Development Officer at Sunfield Research Institute

power point presentation

  

Architecture: Taking autism into account or not? ( case study) 

Simon Humphreys

A qualified architect who has designed a number of buildings for people with ASD, including schools, residential units and day care facilities. He also has an older
brother with ASD.

full text

pictures