Shabha, G., 2004, Therapeutic versus sensorily handicapping environment: an optimisation of schools environment to facilitate individual performance, in: OPENspace, ‘Open space, people space’, OPENspace, Edinburgh
- Author : Shabha, G.
- Year : 2004
- Published in Book : Open space, people space
- Abstract in English : Children on the autistic spectrum are amongst the most vulnerable groups in our society. This largely stems from the overwhelmingly disabling effects of a sensorily handicapping built environment (BE) within which they have to perform. Most children find their environment increasingly bombarding attempting to make sense of varying stimuli in their surrounding. Clearly, the built environment which fails to provide support to enhance individual performance can also lead to creating the least functional and most costly yet inhumane environments, this might militate against occupational performance of the affected children on day-to-day basis at both the micro and macro levels including orientation, navigation, way finding and motion stimuli perception amongst many others. This paper reports on the current research which is conducted at the school of Property and Construction/UCE and the pilot questionnaire has been sent to selected Special Needs Schools in the West Midlands. It is anticipated that this paper will highlight issues for open discussion amongst professionals in the field which might increase the level of understanding and awareness between all those involved in the process of design and management of school environment.
- Comments/Notes : KEYWORDS: therapeutic, sensory environment, auditory processing, participant observation, colour patterns. [paper 5 p.]