Certainly people challenged by physical, mental and emotional disabilities -- the residents of SDC -- are especially fortunate to live and receive care in a setting that offers respite from their necessarily highly structured indoor living situations. In fact, when the Center was originally organized in the late 1800s, it was set up to be largely self-sufficient and residents who could worked outside and were believed to benefit from the experience.
InformeDesign has just published a report summarizing a webinar created last year by landscape architects Naomi Sachs, Director of the Therapeutic Landscapes Network, and Tara Vincenta, creator of SOL (Sequential Outdoor Learning) Environment, exploring research and design considerations for creating outdoor, nature-based play and learning environments for children with special and autistic needs. Many of the challenges faced by children with autism are shared with a broader community of children with special needs, including motor, neuromuscular, cognitive, sensory and communication issues, and visual and auditory impairment.
In the webinar, Sachs and Vincenta share ideas for creating outdoor spaces that allow children to play at their own comfort level and overcome common challenges in a safe, fun, nature-based environment that is equally engaging for any child.
Download a pdf of the newletter with the article here: www.informedesign.org/_news/april_v09-p.pdf.
You can also find more resources on the healinglandscape.org blog at Outdoor Environments for Children with Autism & Special Needs” in InformeDesign’s ‘Implications'
photo credits: Robert Hurley
No comments:
Post a Comment