Furry handles

I made these texure handles in response to references to how Autistic children relate to textures. Some may find touching certain surfaces extremely painful, such as fur. I thought about experimenting a little about what feelings or memories we conjure up when touching something especially if we can't see it.

My project map at present look like an octopus (triapus really said Fabianne as it has only three legs)One leg has a sucksion cup called Memory and it won't let go. The other is called the Sensory World which has several all related to the senses and the third is Space. Some of the ideas relating to these tentacles are a Sensory Maze from which the way out is through touch or sound only...This might go somewhere. But that all ideas seem good at first look don't they?
There is the inflatable, backpack cocoon for those "hide away" moments....hmm it's not all that conceptual really. Although it would probably help severely autistic kids plus commercially it would probably make sense as well. There is a whole lot to think about in this area.

Learn about Autism

This blog is not designed to give a complete picture of Autism. If you wish to learn more about this rare and fascinating condition, please read these books! They are not only represent the authoritative guide to Autism but a terrific read as well. You will enjoy the 'An Anthropologist from Marsh' even if you have no special interest in the troubles of the mind. The seven paradoxical tales of the most original, warm hearted and entertaining neurologist on the planet. The title is actually a term Temple Grandin used to describe her own state of mind as a high functioning Autistic. Her book 'Thinking in Pictures: Autism' provides a first hand insight into the world of the 'Spectrum'. Uta Frith's 'Explaining the Enigma' is mainly focusing on the Theory of the Mind. Is is clearly and well written without difficult medical jargon by one of the leading research scientist of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The book has some very engaging stories and I found it very hard to put down. If you buy these books through these links, in a small way you will contribute to my education. Thank you! please scroll down for image links.

The Ultimate In Unethical Design

A popular 1926 exhibit from the American Eugenics movement reads, "Some people are born to be a burden on the rest. Learn about heredity. You can help to correct these conditions." Five panels are displayed, with flashing lights on them.

The top one is captioned, "This light flashes every 15 seconds. Ever 15 seconds $100 of your money goes for the care of persons with bad heredity such as the insane, feeble-minded, criminals, and other defectives."

Under "America needs less of these," there is a light that flashes every 48 seconds -- "Every 48 seconds a person is born in the United states who will never grow up mentally beyond that stage of a normal 8 year old boy or girl" -- and one that flashes every 50 seconds -- "Every 50 seconds a person is committed to jail in the United States. Very few normal persons ever go to jail."

Under "America needs more of these," there is a light that flashes every 16 seconds -- "Every 16 seconds a person is born in the United States", and another that flashes every 7 and a half minutes -- "Every 7 1/2 minutes a high grade person is born in the United States who will have ability to do creative work and be fit for leadership. About 4% of all Americans come within this class."

These flashing-light exhibits were very popular at American eugenics exhibitions, and smaller, more portable versions were made to show everyone how rapidly all these costly and defective people were being born. These days, the eugenics movement is looked upon as a dismal part of American history that some would like to forget and others openly condemn. Few claim to want to repeat it.

Yep! That's right! Read and Weep, But it seems that things haven't changed much for autistics since then;
The autistic Terrance Cottrell Jr. (Age 8) died of suffocation while being sat upon by the minister during a prayer service to "release him from demons" 22 August 2003, Wisconsin, USA
Apparently two of the church goers were holding the boy down while the Minister was sitting on him.
I am so very pissed off by ignorance!

Visits to JFK School in Straford

15/10/05
JFK School is for children with severe learning difficulties. There are only two students there with autism although the school seems o be fully equipped and stuffed to teach them. Their MSE (Multi Sensory Environment) room is well known to be vary advanced, recently built. I found it to be a rather 80's design in technological terms and it does not seem to consider usability and comfort factors

20/10/05
This was the opportunity to see the MSE room in action as the first time. Although the two pupils were severally disable but not autistic, it was interesting to see their interactions with the various sensory devices. (There actually was not much of it, none of them seemed to be able to have any consciencious control or realise what they were actually doing) Cathy the teacher anwered a few questions. She things that MSE room may help only a little and mainly with motivation. The room has several installations among those are controlable lights that work by touch and sound control connected by lead. She said it supposed to help with cognitive functions, making object connections and should be apart of a structured and controlled system based on repetition. Carefull, slow and gradual exposure is necessary to reduce and overcome tactile defensivenessMax. 3 pupils should be on each sessions but one to one time is preferable.
Cathy kindly offered help with visiting a lesson after half term with Rob who specialises in tutoring Autistic pupils.
- The various control switches that operate the different devices are located in an outside room. It is an inconvenient arrangement in every way. the teacher must leave the pupils alone in the internal room to operate these outside. It is time and energy consuming as well as unsafe. (Perhaps asking Bill Gates for help? :o) Eveything in his house is wired to a computer to be fully automatic and remotely controllable.

Bit of Brain Physiology

The picture is taken from the BBC video and highlight the two areas that process information relevant in autism. When the researchers attach sensors to a variety of individuals and found that autistic people tented to process faces in the same area as others would objects. - This answers the question why autistic people do not recognise expressions of emotions. - "Autistics don't seem to instictively know that other people have thought of their own" Partly due to this and other factors, social difficulties are characteristic through the autistic spectrum.
Oliver Sacks most excellent book An Antroplogogist On Marsh answers many related question as well as it is a fantastically good fun read!

The Autism Puzzle - BBC 4 Video

The film highlighted the other problem areas through interviews with autistic adults, such as the difficulty in seing the entire and focusing too much on details.
Interesting Quotes:

"like inside a Kaleidoscope, when you shake it, all the pieces come together"

"Making connections via shapes and their connections.

"When he was four and a half he was asked he he'd like Tagliatelle and he said yum yum I like 'seat belts' (by six and a half he completely lost his speach)
Sybil Elgar the first teacher to shed light to appropriate teaching methds with the emphasys on repetition and the importance of routine.

Behind An Invisible Wall

NAS Film -1989. Children are shown on a playground, interacting, playing together. A second group, this time autistic children are shown. They were less active in general but most importanly appear to take no notice of eachother, playing by themselves. Compulsive, repetitive movements, socially improper behaviour, lack of imaginative ability. Abstract ideas are unprocessed therefore real objects can not be substituted with "make believe ones" in role play.
Difficulty in educating to be aware of others. Early diagnosis and training is very important. The film shows some techniques of early intervention such as combining shapes and colours into 'abstract' objects as to teach them the concept of abstaction. Learning Self Reliance in basic tasks is crucial.
Highly emotionally needy but rejecting physical attraction. Need for security.

Time Table

I made this Time Table to put pressure on me and have something to worry about as my life is way too simple.
So I set a research period of six weeks.
By the 11th of November I will have
better insight into the problems associated with autism
have estabilished some potential design areas
become familiar with exsisting educational aids and facilities
found helpfull contacts and resources
prepared an overview to write 5000 words on the project
to be con...

Project Synopsis

The Sensory World of the Autistic Spectrum

The sensory systems can be broken down into six areas. These can be divided into two main areas: hyper (high) and hypo (low) sensitivity. However, it is important to remember that the difficulties/differences may for some individuals fall into both areas.
Balance (vestibular) system
Body awareness (proprioception) system
Smell (olfactory) system
Sight (visual) system
Hearing (auditory) system
Touch (tactile) system
Taste (gustatory) system

A greater understanding of the sensory world of individuals on the spectrum allows you to help them develop in a more comfortable environment. 

MSE (Multi Sensory Experience) is designed to help creating a comfortable environment for an individual on the spectrum to avoid their senses being overloaded.”
Quoted from: http://www.nas.org.uk

The quote in bold is where I would need to do some field research. My limited experience so far include a visit to the NAS organised Day for Autism and the opportunity to visit a newly built Sensory Room (MSE) at the JFK school in Stratford, which I was told was built at great cost. Although the room’s design seem to follow a rather dated design and technology. The other issue is that according to NAS the

“benefits of MSE at present rely mainly upon personal experiences and observations, as there is only a limited amount of research.”

So in short it seems that there is a demand on further research. Not only to update the MSE experience but there is a scope for new conceptual ideas as well
This is the main area of my present interest, although, it is likely to change during the year as my degree project progresses. This project will be a valuable part of my learning experience and likely to be a major contributor to the final outcome. Additionally, I am planning on a PGCE course the following year as I am particularly interested in helping children with learning disabilities. It seems that there aren’t many designers who specialise in this area despite the obvious and evident need and demand.