Designing Schools for Students on the Spectrum

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are broad terms for a group of multifaceted developmental disabilities. These are often characterized by a range of disorders. According to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, in 2012 about 1 in 68 children had been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This rapid rise in diagnosed children can be attributed to a better awareness and thus more frequent diagnosis of ASD. However, it also means that as a society we must better understand and appropriately consider the needs of people with ASD, needs that may vary widely. A broadening of the requirements and attributes of inclusive design is necessary. This paper is an introduction to the problematic of designing learning environments for school-aged children with ASD. While people at every age suffer from autism, supporting children on the spectrum and helping them to develop to their best potential should be of priority for our society.