April is Autism Acceptance Month
Giarola Architects supports calls by Autism Queensland to prioritise social and economic inclusion for Autistic people, via the #ShowYourTrueColours campaign.
April is Autism Acceptance month, a time to celebrate the identities and experiences of Autistic people. Australia is home to a diverse Autistic community with over 290,900 identifying as autistic.
This month is about moving beyond Autism awareness and towards acceptance, by fostering understanding, celebrating diversity, and creating real change by building more inclusive communities, schools, and workplaces.
We celebrate Autism Acceptance Month for several reasons, including:
Raising awareness and challenging stereotypes
Celebrating Autistic strengths
Creating opportunities for genuine participation in community life, education, and the workforce
Advocating for support and resources, and
Fostering community and belonging.
The world needs all kinds of minds – Temple Grandin.
Autism Queensland Chief Executive Officer Frances Scodellaro said that too many autistic people are still facing barriers that limit their opportunities and well-being.
Research shows autistic people are being left behind in education, as well as experiencing employment discrimination and suffering from social isolation.
“Every person deserves equitable access to education, employment, healthcare, and social participation,” Ms Scodellaro said, “Yet we know autistic people are being left behind in education and employment. Parents are reporting their children are being excluded from schools, and three in four autistic job seekers are not being offered a job.”
“Social isolation is also a critical concern with many autistic people and their families, with 39% reported as being unable to leave their houses due to concerns about negative responses from others.”
At Giarola Architects, we firmly believe that every child deserves to thrive in an inclusive learning environment.
Autism Acceptance Month is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of creating spaces that support and empower all learners, regardless of their individual needs.
How does the built environment impact Autistic people?
Autism can impact an individual’s sensory processing, leading them to become over- or under-sensitive to sights, sounds, smells, textures and tastes. These are known as ‘Hyper’ and ‘Hypo’ sensitivities respectively, and they can be a key challenge for many in the Autistic community.
The environment around us, including the buildings in which we live, work and learn can impact Autistic people in both positive and negative ways. This is why designing spaces that are welcoming and inclusive for everyone is critical for positive outcomes.
What does the research say?
At Giarola Architects, we dedicate several weeks each year to finding and compiling the latest research studies and evidence to update our own body of knowledge around Autism.
We apply this knowledge to inform our design projects and once they are built, we test the effectiveness of these design strategies through post occupancy evaluation studies. To find out more about this process click here [A ground-breaking POE study highlights design strategies that enhance inclusivity in education].
The results of our post-occupancy evaluation studies show that the design changes we have implemented in educational spaces are having a positive impact on student engagement.
“All of our students are neurodivergent and may also have sensitivity issues, so spaces were specifically designed to control lighting, noise (including dampening) and temperature, to provide optimal learning environment.” Peter Foster, Principal, Mancel College.
If you’d like more details about how we can help to enhance inclusivity at your school, we invite you to explore our services, including:
Our Inclusive Education Evaluation service (email us here to find out more)
Our Signature Vision Process (email us here to find out more)
Or call our studio on 07 3878 3330 to ask us how we can collaborate and bring your vision to life.