2. • Nick Haake NAS Cymru
• Helen Leigh NAS Cymru
• Andrew Hole Pentan Partnership
3. Objectives
• Develop an understanding of the key success
factors when designing housing for people
who have autism
• Explore the experience of developing purpose
built accommodation
5. P.S.
Thinking about the old place makes me
very emotional- it was horrendous and I do
– on a daily basis thank God that we
now have a safe environment for Chris.
If I live to be a 100 I don’t think that I will
ever take it for granted.
6. The Autism Spectrum
Extreme ability in
some areas
Average I.Q.
Above average I.Q
Mild learning
disability
Moderate
learning
disability
Severe
learning
disability
7. The Triad of Impairments
Wing and Gould 1979
SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Sensory
processing
problems
AnxietyRituals and
compulsions
COMMUNICATION
IMAGINATION
PersonalityLearning disability
8. “Sensory Sensitivity in any form can make
it difficult to concentrate, to trust, at
attending to things other than the source of
hypersensitivity to join in or to relax. If the
discomfort or distraction is extreme
enough, they can distract from the abilities
to learn.”
Donna Williams
9. Sensory Hypersensitivity
• Distress with Sound
• Sensitivity to light
• Discomfort with textures
• Insecurity with heights
• Insecurity with Movement / proximity
• Clutter
• Temperature issues
11. “Reality to an Autistic person is a confusing,
interacting mass of events, people, places,
sounds and sights. There seems to be no clear
boundaries, order or meaning to anything.
A large part of my life is spent just trying to work
out the pattern behind everything. Set routines,
times, particular routes and rituals all help to get
order into an unbearable chaotic life”.
12. Key considerations – right from the
start
• Vision and Values
• Clear brief and person centred
• Autism Expertise
• Choose Architect – values and expertise
• Team work (project management, partnering)
13. Designing the Right Environment
• Reduce anxiety
• Enhance motivation, confidence and self esteem
• Reduce behaviours which inhibit progress or impair quality of life
• Enhance concentration/ remove distraction
• play to strengths/ likes
• Keep people safe
15. LOW AROUSAL
• Space – to move around freely
• Rooms – layout and structure of rooms
• Clutter
• Noise
• Light
• Durability - solid construction
• Temperature control
16. INDEPENDENT LIVING
• Safe access to kitchens etc.
• Entrances and exists
• Security
• Individual living areas
• En-suite
• Individually tailored equipment
17. CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR
• Corridor space
• Assistive technology
• Outside space
• Sight lines
• Exits and entrances
• Movement
• Stairs
• Fixtures and fittings
• Materials (walls floorings)
19. TY NANT, RINGLAND CIRCLE, NEWPORT
• 6no. Self Contained individual design flats with
communal accommodation including lounge, dining
room, kitchen, quiet rooms, utility room, two
staircases and lift.
• Total Floor Area 750m²and total build cost £993,128.
• Wide corridors and open circulation areas with
curved walls, thus omitting all 90º corners.
• Accommodation to DDA Standards, fully compliant
with current Building Regulation requirements.
• Building fabric insulation above current building
regulation standards from sustainable natural
resources.
• Building plan developed in consultation with Newport
City Building Control Department.
• The gardens are fully landscaped and contain
features that are appropriate for the client group.
These features include a secure boundary, flower
beds and areas to stimulate the clients’ senses
• External finishes assist access awareness providing
a fully accessible building
• Fully secure scheme to South Wales Police Secured
by Design Standards.
20. TY NANT, RINGLAND CIRCLE, NEWPORT
• Self Contained individual design flats with their
own lounge/bed area, kitchen with dining area and
bath/shower room.
• Floor area of 51m², which permits flexible usage
and high internal space for standards with
potential for conversion to Welsh Assembly
Government flat units.
• Bath/Shower room fully concealed pipe work and
services with fully tiled walls. Level access shower
tray where indicated.
• Internal colour scheme to NAS recommendations.
Colours and tonal contrast with lighting to assist
sensory impairment
• Purpose built robust and durable kitchen units and
fitted wardrobes.
• Robust electrical switches and sockets with secure
screw fixing with domestic appearance with low
energy domestic light fittings.
• External and flat entrance door alarm system with
sounder in staff accommodation flat.
• Provision of personal alarms. An internal call
system and movement sensors/flood sensors
were also included.
Typical flat layout
21. TY NANT, RINGLAND CIRCLE, NEWPORT
• Extensive provision of natural light with
windows triple glazed.
• Hard wearing floor finishes.
• Paintwork with satin finish.
• Integrated fire alarm/emergency lighting
installations where fitting appearance
matches normal domestic appearance.
• Substantial levels of sound reduction built
into proposals from sustainable natural
resources.
• Energy management under floor heating
installations.
• Efficient boilers heating source with
weather compensated controls.
• Whole building ventilation system.
Internal Photograph of
Lounge
22. • Internal passages 2.5m wide, curved partitions
provide clear sight lines, internal space and clean
lines.
• Staircase with half landing.
• Thermal and acoustic laminated triple glazed
performance windows, which also reduce glare.
• Glazing to suit special light transmissions and
reflectance.
• Internal sandwiched solar control glazing blinds which
also provide privacy.
• Internal building environment with air comfort cooling
installation.
• Provides continuous background air movement
throughout the whole scheme and a coolant effect
during high temperature periods.
• Service areas provided to contain all boiler plant, hot
water cylinders anti-scald valves, drainage, service
pipework and cut off points.
• Installation of a Telecare system to aid many
challenges facing those living independently.
• Telecare system aids those especially if they begin to
suffer from cognitive, physical, hearing & visual
impairments.
• Enables these challenges to be managed and the
risks minimised through use of sensors, detectors
and triggers strategically located in the home.
TY NANT, RINGLAND CIRCLE, NEWPORT
23. LONGFORD COURT, NEATH
• 2 new building dwellings of 5no. Apartments with
shared accommodation and communal
accommodation including lounge, dining room,
kitchen, activity room, utility room and W.C.
• Floor areas of 420m² and 325m² with a total build
cost of £1,356,725.
• Covered verandah to front and rear of buildings.
• Accommodation to DDA Standard, fully compliant
with current Building Regulation requirements.
• Heavy duty doors and linings.
• Building fabric insulation above current Building
Regulation standards from sustainable natural
resources.
• Extensive provision of natural light with double
glazing with internal blinds.
• Solar water heating panels.
• The gardens are fully landscaped and contain
features that are appropriate for the client group.
These features include a secure boundary, flower
beds and areas to stimulate the clients’ senses
• External finishes assist access awareness providing
a fully accessible building
• Fully secure scheme to South Wales Police Secured
by Design Standards.
24. KITCHEN
BATH
LOUNGE
BEDROOM
STAFF
BEDROOM
BEDROOM 3
BEDROOM 4
STAIRS
BATH
ST ST
ST
BATHSHR
ROOM
LONGFORD COURT, NEATH
BEDROOM 1 BEDROOM 2
SHOWER
ROOM
BATH
W.C
UTILITY
ST
ST
ST
KITCHEN
DINING ROOM
HALLWAY
LOUNGE
ST
STAIRS
VERANDAH
• Flat floor area of 44.6m² and Bedroom floor area of 23m²
which permits flexible usage and provides high internal
space and volume standards.
• Bathrooms with fully concealed pipe work and services
with fully tiled walls.
• Internal colour scheme to NAS recommendations,
colours and tonal contrast with lighting to assist sensory
impairment.
• Critical surfaces and fixings are designed to stand out
and be easily identified. Such as:
-Architraves and skirting boards,
-cupboard handles and doors,
-Matt kitchen surfaces,
-Matt tiles around shower and wash hand basin areas,
-Colour grab rails.
• Purpose built robust and durable kitchen units and fitted
wardrobes.
• Robust electrical switches and sockets with domestic
appearance with low energy domestic light fittings with
circuit control.
• Internal entrance door alarm system with sounder in staff
accommodation flat. Provision of personal alarms.
• An internal call system and movement sensors/flood
sensors also included.
• Installation of shut off controls to individual flats.
• Staff accommodation with en-suite shower room
facilities.
First Floor Plan
(Plot 2)
Ground Floor
Plan
(Plot 2)
25. • Thermal and acoustic laminated double glazed
performance windows, which also reduce glare.
• Glazing to suit special light transmissions and
reflectance.
• Internal sandwiched solar control glazing blinds
which also provide privacy.
• Solar hot water systems installation incorporating
roof collection panels with combined cylinder
storage. Installation in accordance with Best
Practice Programme.
• Integrated fire alarm/emergency lighting
installations where fitting appearance matches
normal domestic appearance.
• Substantial levels of sound reduction built into
proposals from sustainable natural resource
• Energy management under floor heating
installations. Efficient boilers heating source with
weather compensated controls.
• Internal building environment with continuous
background air movement throughout the whole
scheme.
LONGFORD COURT, NEATH
26. • Service areas provided to receive all boiler plant,
hot water cylinders anti-scald valves, drainage,
service pipework and cut off points.
• Installation of a assisted technology to aid many
challenges facing those living independently,
especially if they begin to suffer from cognitive,
physical, hearing & visual impairment.
• This enables these challenges to be managed and
the risks minimised through use of sensors,
detectors and triggers strategically located in the
home.
• This photograph shows the pictorial daily planner
which offers a structure of the person's day,
reducing anxiety and communicates activities and
opportunities the person can expect from their day.
• The activities are all chosen by each individual and
photographs of their staff team show who will be
supporting the person to undertake the activities.
LONGFORD COURT, NEATH
27. Service Review Themes 2004
• CSSIW outlined a Service “not fit for purpose”
• Unhomely, overall required updating for building, furniture and equipment
• Low community presence and participation
• Lack of domestic hygiene due to component finishes and flooring
• Lack of activities and access into the community
• Inadequate security within perimeter areas encountering poor visibility
• High risk incidences due to challenging behaviour resulting from heightened
levels of anxiety
• Increase in staff injuries a significant factor due to poor layout of homes
• Poor staff morale low due to inappropriate accommodation and management
28. Our intervention was:
• Better environments for people who have autism
• Culture change – training
- Management
- Autism
- Person centred approach
- Staff restructure
• Assessment and transition Work
29. 2010
• Homely environments
• More space
• Low arousal settings
• Active Support interventions
• Structured opportunities in people’s lives
• Person Centred Culture
30. 2010
• Greater activity levels for individuals
• Increased communication systems
• Low levels of anxiety
• Ritualistic behaviours reduced
• Lower incidents of challenging behaviour (as you can
see)
32. Quote from CSSIW:
“I would honestly like to say that it has been a real
pleasure working with managers and a provider who
really want to make a difference for the people that they
support.
Some improvements have taken a long time to achieve
but I have always felt that you have all been totally
motivated to make the changes. I am confident that the
service users who you support will continue to receive
your absolute best. “
33. SUMMARY
• An autism centre approach to buildings development
• A team approach towards an agreed vision
• A person centred approach
34. “Living and working with people with autistic
disorders is not like living or working with anyone
else with or without disabilities. Past experiences
of social interaction and a desire to help are not
sufficient guides. It is essential to understand the
nature of autistic conditions. People with these
disorders, because of their social impairments
cannot meet you half way. You have to make an
imaginative leap into their world and try to see
things from their point of view.”
(Wing 1995)
Editor's Notes
This diagram shows how the various aspects of the Triad interact All flow from the underlying impairment in Imagination- the core cognitive deficit rooted in brain development Key points Although not part of the triad of impairments, anxiety present in almost all subjects Key intervention is to reduce anxiety
This slide introduces the idea that sensory differences may be under or over sensitive – leading to behaviour that is seeking out a sensation or avoiding it at all costs! It is a complex area of work and one which we have limited understanding of at present. We do know that some people can be under sensitive to one sensation eg likes lots of noise and movement but is over sensitive to another eg bright lights Sensation seeking could also be ‘/needs a lot of stimulation to respond’ Also the same behaviour may seem to point to being under sensitive but sometimes it is because of the opposite problem – Eg Talks or hums loudly because likes noise and is under sensitive to it or it could be the child is very over sensitive to noise so makes a noise to block other less predictable noises out? Or eating problems could be caused by lack of sensation or being overly sensitive - eating too quick or not chewing enough could both cause same problems of indigestion etc
First topic is about the actual physical environment of LC. We asked about environment for service users and for staff. This shows how staff rated the environment for service users. Blue shows the positive ratings and red the negative ratings Most questions were positively rated, apart from external facilities, equipment and dining areas (also homeliness to an extent). But apart from external safety, substantial proportions thought improvements were needed. The areas for improvement mentioned mostly were :….Themes on slide. Prompt Qs: (Sarah) Do you generally agree with the ratings? Does anything surprise you? (Are there differences in different parts of LC?) What do you think should stay the same – and why? What do you think should change – and why?
