Nizhny Novgorod, Veliky Novgorod, Russian Federation
Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation
Nowadays, teaching children with autism in secondary schools is a new practice for Russia. Its implementation requires special knowledge and skills from all involved specialists. It also requires special architectural and design practices at all construction stages: from the project to the object itself. After competent planning decisions, the most important element is acoustic comfort in speech therapy and other rooms for inclusive purposes. Students with special educational needs, including autism, have a high level of sensitivity to noise with strong tonal, impulsive, or intermittent characteristics. A correct controlled acoustic environment is necessary to preserve the normotypic behavior of students with autism in the schools. Indeed, we should consider their needs when performing functional zoning and avoid artificial formation of a quiet environment for the learning process. Hence, generalising communication skills in an acoustically unchanged environment will ensure maximum students’ integration into social interactions both inside and outside the school.
architecture for autistics, autism, inclusion, acoustics in school, sound insulation of classrooms
1. Strelnikova, E.Yu. (2023), “The specifics of the organization of the educational environment for students with mental disabilities”, Reabilitatsiya zhilogo prostranstva gorozhanina: mat. XIX mezhd. nauch.-prakt. konf. im. V. Tatlina [Rehabilitation of the living space of the city dweller: mat. XIX Inter. Sci. Pract. Conf. named after V. Tatlin], Penza, 17 February 2023, pp. 411-413.
2. Chebereva, O.N. and Strelnikova, E.Yu. (2024), “Architectural and planning solutions of resource zones in educational institutions”, Aktual`nye problemy stroitelnoj otrasli i obrazovaniya - 2023: Sb. dokl. IV Natsional. nauch. konf. [Actual problems of construction industry and education - 2023: Collection of reports IV National Scientific Conference], Moscow State Construction University (National Research University), Moscow, Russia, 15 December 2023, pp. 327-332.
3. “How the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders appear in young children. A benefit for parents, family and friends” (2019), Fond Vykhod, Moscow, Russia.
4. Morozova, E. (2024), “Sensory hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity: how do they manifest in autism”, Autizm – eto, available at: https://autismjournal.help/articles/sensornaya-giperchuvstvitelnost-i-gipochuvstvitelnost-kak-oni-proyavlyayutsya-pri-autizme (Accessed 11 May 2024).
5. Doković, S., Gligorović, M. and Ostojić-Zeljković, S. (2021), “Auditory perception in people with autism spectrum disorders”, Specijalna edukacija i rehabilitacija, vol. 2, no.1, pp. 31-49.
6. Nichole, E.S., Troy, Q.B., Bahmei, B., Iarocci, G., Arzanpour, S. and Birmingham, E. (2022), “Family experiences of decreased sound tolerance in ASD”, Journal of autism and developmental disorders, vol. 52, no. 9.
7. Caniato, M. (2022), “Recent advances on indoor comfort for autistic individuals”, Architecture and autism. Sensory perception and independent living. Proceedings of the International workshop, Trieste, Italy, pp. 23-26.
8. Rimland, B. and Edelson, S.M. (1995), “Brief report: A pilot study of auditory integration training in autism’, Journal of autism and developmental disorders, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 61-70.
9. Caldas, F., Masiero B. and Wang, L.M. (2023), “How classroom acoustic Conditions may impact autistic students: A review”, INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and conference proceedings, Chiba, Japan.
10. Marco, E., Hinkley, L. and Hill, S. (2011), “Sensory processing in Autism: A review of neurophysiologic findings, Pediatr. Res., vol. 69, pp. 48-54, available at: https://doi.org/10.1203/PDR.0b013e3182130c54 (Accessed 11 May 2024).
11. Mostafa, M. (2014), ”Architecture for autism: Autism ASPECTSS™ in school design”, Int. J. Arch. Res. Archnet-IJAR, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 143-158.
12. Mostafa, M. (2006), “Let them be heard appropriate acoustics for autism special needs school design Arch Cairo”, ARCHCairo2006, Cairo, Egypt.
13. Bettarello, F., Caniato, M., Pernigotto, G. and Gasparella, A. (2023), “Indoor acoustic comfort for ASD people: from independent living to educational environments”, INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON congress and conference proceedings, no. 265. pp. 4852-4859, Chiba, Japan.
14. Kanakri, S.M. (2017), “Spaces matters: Classroom acoustics and repetitive behaviors in preschool children with autism”, Amer. J. Pediatr., vol. 3, no. 6, pp. 89-94.
15. Kanakri, S.M., Shepley, M., Tassinary, L.G., Varni, J.W. and Fawaz, H.M. (2017), “An observational study of classroom acoustical design and repetitive behaviors in children with autism”, Environment and Behavior, vol. 49, no. 8, pp. 847-873.
16. ANSI (2002), American National Standard Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements and Guidelines for Schools. American National Standards Institute, New York, US.
17. ANSI (2010), American National Standard Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools, Part 1: Permanent Schools. American National Standards Institute, New York, US.
18. Position Statement and Guidelines for Acoustics in Educational Settings. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) (2005), New York, US.
19. Building Bulletin 93. BB93: Acoustic Design of Schools - Performance Standards (2015), United Kingdom Department for Education, London, UK.
20. Bettarello, F., Caniato, M., Scavuzzo, G. and Gasparella, A. (2021), “Indoor acoustic requirements for autism-friendly spaces”, Appl. Sci., vol. 11, no. 9.