 |
A place to play: Researcher designs schoolyard for children with autism
May 08, 2012A place to play: Researcher designs schoolyard for children with autism
MANHATTAN -- A Kansas State University graduate student is creating a schoolyard that can become a therapeutic landscape for children with autism.
Chelsey King, master's student in landscape architecture, St. Peters, Mo., is working with Katie Kingery-Page, assistant professor of landscape architecture, to envision a place where elementary school children with autism could feel comfortable and included.
"My main goal was to provide different opportunities for children with autism to be able to interact in their environment without being segregated from the rest of the school," King said. "I didn't want that separation to occur."
The schoolyard can be an inviting place for children with autism, King said, if it provides several aspects: clear boundaries, a variety of activities and activity level spaces, places where the child can go when overstimulated, opportunities for a variety of sensory input without being overwhelming and a variety of ways to foster communication between peers.
"The biggest issue with traditional schoolyards is that they are completely open but also busy and crowded in specific areas," King said. "This can be too overstimulating for a person with autism."
King researched ways that she could create an environment where children with autism would be able to interact with their surroundings and their peers, but where they could also get away from overstimulation until they felt more comfortable and could re-enter the activities.
"Through this research, I was able to determine that therapies and activities geared toward sensory stimulation, cognitive development, communication skills, and fine and gross motor skills -- which traditionally occur in a classroom setting -- could be integrated into the schoolyard," King said.
King designed her schoolyard with both traditional aspects -- such as a central play area -- and additional elements that would appeal to children with autism, including:
* A music garden where children can play with outdoor musical instruments to help with sensory aspects.
*An edible garden/greenhouse that allows hands-on interaction with nature and opportunities for horticulture therapy.
*A sensory playground, which uses different panels to help children build tolerances to difference sensory stimulation.
* A butterfly garden to encourage nature-oriented learning in a quiet place.
*A variety of alcoves, which provide children with a place to get away when they feel overwhelmed and want to regain control.
King created different signs and pictures boards around these schoolyard elements, so that it was easier for children and teachers to communicate about activities. She also designed a series of small hills around the central play areas so that children with autism could have a place to escape and watch the action around them.
"It is important to make the children feel included in the schoolyard without being overwhelmed," King said. "It helps if they have a place -- such as a hill or an alcove -- where they can step away from it and then rejoin the activity when they are ready.
King and Kingery-Page see the benefits of this type of schoolyard as an enriching learning environment for all children because it involves building sensory experience and communication.
"Most children spend seven to nine hours per weekday in school settings," Kingery-Page said. "Designing schoolyards that are educational, richly experiential, with potentially restorative nature contact for children should be a community concern."
The researchers collaborated with Jessica Wilkinson, a special education teacher who works with children with autism. King designed her schoolyard around Amanda Arnold Elementary School, which is the Manhattan school district's magnet school for children with autism.
"Although there are no current plans to construct the schoolyard, designing for a real school allowed Chelsey to test principles synthesized from literature against the actual needs of an educational facility," Kingery-Page said. "Chelsey's interaction with the school autism coordinator and school principal has grounded her research in the daily challenges of elementary education for students with autism."
King presented her research, "Therapeutic schoolyard: Design for autism spectrum disorder," at the recent K-State Research Forum.
Kansas State University
Related Autism Current Events and Autism News Articles
The secret lives, and deaths, of neurons
As the human body fine-tunes its neurological wiring, nerve cells often must fix a faulty connection by amputating an axon - the "business end" of the neuron that sends electrical impulses to tissues or other neurons.
Waiting for a sign? Researchers find potential brain 'switch' for new behavior
You're standing near an airport luggage carousel and your bag emerges on the conveyor belt, prompting you to spring into action. How does your brain make the shift from passively waiting to taking action when your bag appears?
Enrichment therapy effective among children with autism, UCI study finds
Children with autism showed significant improvement after six months of simple sensory exercises at home using everyday items such as scents, spoons and sponges, according to UC Irvine neurobiologists.
Research reveals possible reason for cholesterol-drug side effects
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and physicians continue to document that some patients experience fuzzy thinking and memory loss while taking statins, a class of global top-selling cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Non-inherited mutations account for many heart defects, Yale researchers find
New mutations that are absent in parents but appear in their offspring account for at least 10% of severe congenital heart disease, reveals a massive genomics study led, in part, by researchers at the Yale School of Medicine.
Enhanced motion perception in autism may point to an underlying cause of the disorder
Children with autism see simple movement twice as quickly as other children their age, and this hypersensitivity to motion may provide clues to a fundamental cause of the developmental disorder, according to a new study.
Human brain cells developed in lab, grow in mice
A key type of human brain cell developed in the laboratory grows seamlessly when transplanted into the brains of mice, UC San Francisco researchers have discovered, raising hope that these cells might one day be used to treat people with Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and possibly even Alzheimer's disease, as well as and complications of spinal cord injury such as chronic pain and spasticity.
Geneticists find causes for severe childhood epilepsies
Researchers at the University of Arizona have successfully determined the genetic mutations causing severe epilepsies in seven out of 10 children for whom the cause of the disorder could not be determined clinically or by conventional genetic testing.
Childhood disability rate jumps 16 percent over past decade
More children today have a disability than a decade ago, and the greatest increase is among kids in higher-income families, according to a study to be presented Sunday, May 5, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Washington, DC.
UCSB researchers successfully treat autism in infants
Most infants respond to a game of peek-a-boo with smiles at the very least, and, for those who find the activity particularly entertaining, gales of laughter.
More Autism Current Events and Autism News Articles
 |
Autism: A Practical Guide for Parents by Alan Yau (Author) Theory is great, but as a busy parent of a young child with autism, what you would really like is a practical guide: with ideas, tips and strategies that you can use right away. Oh, and you want a book that is concise and easy to understand, right? This book is what you are looking for. Think of this book as a collection of sparks. Real sparks ignite fires. The sparks in this book will ignite ideas in your head about how to teach your child with autism. Here's what you will learn in this book: How children with autism are wired differently, and how that affects the way they learn. Why Intensive Play is so important to everything else. Why it’s so hard to get your child’s attention, and what you can do about it. How visual tools can help your child, and how you can use them... |
 |
Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Parent's Guide To Understand An Autistic Child - Why Autism Spectrum Disorder Can Be Overcome Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Parent’s Guide To Understand An Autistic Child Why Autism Spectrum Disorder Can Be Overcome Nowadays it seems that more and more children are being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder especially boys. A lot of research is being conducted to try and determine the underlying causes of the condition and also to find the best methods to deal with the condition. “Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Parent’s Guide To Understand An Autistic Child” not only outline the various forms of autism that can be found on the spectrum but also focuses a bit on related conditions. In addition to all of that the current successful methods of treatment are outlined for parents and other interested persons to read. The challenge with autism is that so... |
 |
1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism or Asperger's, Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition by Veronica Zysk (Author), Ellen Notbohm (Author) Winner of Learning Magazine's Teachers Choice Award, the first edition of 1001 Great Ideas has been a treasured resource in the autism community since 2004. Now, in this expanded edition, Ellen Notbohm (best-selling author of the revolutionary book Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew) and Veronica Zysk (award-winning author and editor of Autism Asperger's Digest magazine) present parents and educators with over 1800 ideas try-it-now tips, eye-opening advice, and grassroots strategies. More than 600 fresh ideas join tried and true tactics from the original edition, while many ideas pick up where the first edition left off, offering modifications for older kids, honing in on Asperger's challenges, and enhancing already-effective ways to help your child or student achieve... |
 |
Autism Spectrum Disorders - An Essential Guide for Parents This book covers topics that can help you get a better understanding of autism. It teaches how to help your loved one (suffering from autistic disorder) in every good way possible. It is important that you learn everything you need to know about ASD in order to properly care for your child. This book is your handy guide if you who want to expand your knowledge on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this book, you'll learn: About Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autistic Disorder, Rett Syndrome, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PPD-NOS), Childhood Disintegrative Disorder)Checklist that can help you determine if your child needs to be evaluated for ASD Knowing the signs that your child exhibitsDiagnosing Autism... |
 |
Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide by Chantal Sicile-Kira (Author), Temple Grandin (Foreword) Based on nearly two decades of Chantal Sicile-Kira's personal and professional experiences with individuals and families affected by this growing epidemic, Autism Spectrum Disorders explains all aspects of the condition, including: - The causes of autism spectrum disorders - How to properly diagnose ASDs - Treatments based on behavioral, psychological and biomedical interventions - Coping strategies for families - Educational needs and programs - Living and working conditions for adults with ASD - Community interaction - Teaching strategies and resources for educators and other professionals |
 |
Autism Goes to School - Book One of the School Daze Series by ASD Publishing After suddenly receiving custody of his five year old son, Ben must learn how to be a dad. That fact that he'd even fathered a child was news to him. Not only does this mean restructuring his sixty-hour work week and becoming responsible for another human being, but also Kyle has autism. Enter the school system. Under the guidance (and bullying) of a gifted teacher, Ben and Kyle take tentative steps to becoming father and son. Teacher Melanie Nicols sees Ben as a dead beat dad, but grudgingly comes to admire how he hangs in, determined to learn for his son’s sake. Her admiration grows to more as father and son come to rely on Melanie being a part of their lives. When parents, particularly mothers,receive the news that their child has autism, they spend... |
 |
Autism: The Scientific Truth About Preventing, Diagnosing, and Treating Autism Spectrum Disorders--and What Parents Can Do Now by Dr. Robert Melillo (Author) From the bestselling author of Disconnected Kids, a clear and compassionate explanation of the causes of the autism epidemic—and a scientifically based approach for prevention and treatment. As he travels the country helping parents and children cope with neurological disorders, Dr. Robert Melillo is always asked one question: Why? Why are autism rates exploding? But an equally important question always follows: What can we do about it as a society—and what can I do to help my child? In this candid, research-based, practical book, Dr. Melillo presents the latest scientific explanation for how we got here and proven, drug-free strategies that parents can employ to help prevent, detect, and address the autism epidemic for themselves and their families. With... |
 |
The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum by Temple Grandin (Author), Richard Panek (Author) A cutting-edge account of the latest science of autism, from the best-selling author and advocate When Temple Grandin was born in 1947, autism had only just been named. Today it is more prevalent than ever, with one in 88 children diagnosed on the spectrum. And our thinking about it has undergone a transformation in her lifetime: Autism studies have moved from the realm of psychology to neurology and genetics, and there is far more hope today than ever before thanks to groundbreaking new research into causes and treatments. Now Temple Grandin reports from the forefront of autism science, bringing her singular perspective to a thrilling journey into the heart of the autism revolution. Weaving her own experience with remarkable new discoveries, Grandin introduces the neuroimaging... |
 |
Autism - What Do You Need To Know? A Parent's Guide To Autism Causes, Diagnosis and Treatments. DSM-5 Ready by Cranendonck Coaching Autism is Changing Find out about the dramatic shifts taking place with the release of DSM-5 this year. The medical field has gained tremendous insights that are now being incorporated for a much more accurate picture of the Autism Spectrum. Now YOU can be on top of the changes, understanding what they mean for YOUR child, your school, and your organization. The new book "Autism Guide - What Do You Need To Know? A Parent's Guide To Autism Causes, Diagnosis, Treatments and Living. DSM-5 Ready" by Raymond Le Blanc brings you up to date! Mr. Le Blanc is an expert on Autism and Aspergers who has done intense research on DSM-5 and what it means to Autism. Get YOUR copy now and have the best help available in charting your future with the advent of... |
 |
Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm (Author) Winner of an iParenting Media Award and Honorable Mention in the 2005 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards! Every parent, teacher, social worker, therapist, and physician should have this succinct and informative book in their back pocket. Framed with both humor and compassion, the book defines the top ten characteristics that illuminate the minds and hearts of children with autism. Ellen's personal experiences as a parent, an autism columnist, and a contributor to numerous parenting magazines coalesce to create a guide for all who come in contact with a child on the autism spectrum. Don't buy just one of this book- buy one for everyone who interacts with your child! Give the gift of understanding. Helpful chapters include: My sensory perceptions are disordered Distinguish between... |
| © 2013 BrightSurf.com |