"MY vs THEIR World": "OUR World" Learning Network for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder are not properly accommodated in the built environment, societal daily life, and medical services. Autism is a behaviourally defined disorder based on impairments in social-emotional relationships, and restricted patterns of behaviours, interests or activities. Remaining unaware of the disorder fractures a person’s with autism relationship with neurotypical people; diverging an autism “my” world and neurotypical “their” world. To merge the two worlds, the thesis has three architectural goals utilizing the Autism ASPECTSS Design Index for a new “our” world: to encourage interaction, spread awareness, and teach autism resilience skills for unsettling environments. The building, located in Gorsebrook Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a three tier learning centre that provides knowledge and services for the public, professionals, and people with autism. The resulting “our” world advances the concept of inclusive design; intertwining different groups that require support to meaningfully engage and understand each other.