Spatial Qualities Supporting Treatment Process of Children with Autism Disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.A. of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Graduate Studies, Islamic Azad University, Nour Branch, Mazandaran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Graduate Studies, Islamic Azad University, Nour Branch, Mazandaran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Graduate Studies, Islamic Azad University, Nour Branch, Mazandaran, Iran.

Abstract

The significant outbreak of autism as a profound developmental disorder in children can be considered the result of modern machine life. It is a disorder that has not fully responded to the medication. Therefore, the use of natural healing supports and the forces of nature is recognized as one of the complementary solutions. The current study aimed to achieve the landscape design criteria that support the treatment of autistic children to identify "landscape design criteria that meet the needs of autistic children" to provide solutions to use these spatial quality criteria. The significance of this study was to take steps to achieve the applicable details in the spaces supporting the treatment of autistic patients so that its results can be utilized as design guidelines. The current research was applied-theoretical with qualitative and quantitative approach and case study. The data collection tools were library studies on the related research to achieve a strong theoretical framework, behavioral observation, and interview using the Delphi technique with the participating experts. The target population included 30 psychologists and experts in the area of autistic children in Tehran selected purposeful and non-randomly based on the saturation method. The collected data were analyzed using NVivo software, and a triangulation method was used to improve the validity of the findings. According to the research results and findings, the landscape components supporting the treatment of children with autism were identified. Then, these results led to presenting special recommendations for designing or spatial guidance. The measures and guidelines based on the specific details will have a positive effect on the treatment process of the user children.

Keywords


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