Spatial design as a facilitator for people with less visible impairments

Abstract

Health Environments are commonly understood to be specially designed environments for patients or individuals at risk due to their medical conditions. In addition the role of the environment, although recognised anecdotally as an influencing variable, is generally only perceived as a setting or locality because greater importance is given to the significance of treatments, care regimes and managerial systems for a person to regain his or her health. In contrast, this paper deliberately positions the everyday environments as critical for maximizing the wellbeing of people who have impairments which are not readily visible to the incidental observer. These people need or desire to live their lives in the community. Specifically, the discussion focuses on the implications for individuals with autism, acquired brain injury (ABI) and other forms of cognitive impairment. Therefore, the question is raised: What are the considerations (beyond the realm of the medical model) that are needed when we design everyday environments that these people inhabit to positively facilitate their wellbeing, and as a consequence, health. Three casestudies are drawn upon to highlight the relationship between the environment and people with autism/ASD and/or cognitive impairment. Thereby, the potential to positively facilitate their lives by modifying the environment is demonstrated. As a result the propositions raised have implications for all ages and life styles as such impairments are increasingly present across all strata of our society.

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