Architecture & its impact on the improvement process of children with autism in treatment, educational, & skill centers (case study: three autism centers in Australia)

Background & Objective: This research aims to examine the architectural conditions of therapeutic, educational, & skill development spaces for individuals, especially children under the age of fifteen, with autism. The evaluation focuses on three autism centers in Australia, intending to guide the establishment of specialized therapeutic, educational, & skill development centers for autism in consideration of the current & future prevalence of this disorder.Materials & Methods: This study utilizes a descriptive-exploratory approach, combining literature reviews & document analysis related to autism, architectural characteristics of autism centers, & a qualitative study of three autism centers in Australia. The qualitative approach involves observation & assessment to better advance research goals.Findings: The investigation of three autism centers in Australia indicates that the current architectural spaces for autism centers in Iran do not adequately meet the needs of individuals with autism, caregivers, professionals, & their families. Research suggests that if design standards & guidelines for autism centers are established on a fundamental basis, they can significantly contribute to the improvement & treatment process for these children.Conclusion: Despite the increasing knowledge among specialists & professionals in the field of autism, the evaluation of case studies & the presence of centers with suitable therapeutic, educational, & skill development spaces, considering elements such as light, color, spatial organization, predictability, privacy, acoustics, control, security, ventilation, & materials, play a crucial role in the substantial progress of these individuals.

Keywords:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) , Architectural design elements , Educational spaces , Skill development spaces , Rehabilitation