DSA: architecturAbility. Ambienti sensoriali "terapeutici" per rendere Abili. Un progetto di vita integrato rivolto alle persone con Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by challenges with social skills and communication, repetitive behaviour, sensory sensitiveness and environmental perception. The most recent data estimate autism’s prevalence as 1 in 68 children (CDCP, USA), with a ratio of men to women that is approximately 4:1. This research aims to improve the quality of life of people with autism and their families in their living environments, to make them Able and included in the society. It develops new tools to support the design process that would be able to adapt the environment to all the requirements of people with ASD. Literature about design for autism is quite recent and there are only a few line guides about residential and educational environments. This research affirms that universal design guides can't be the right answer because ASD can differ a lot from person to person, in terms of special needs. On the contrary, it presents a new co-design approach based on flexibility, customisation and dynamic space. The autism-friendly sensory waiting room in Careggi Hospital represents an application of this method and also the first example in Italy (and one of the few in Europe) of a sensory waiting room in Emergency Department. The second product of the research is a web platform - DARE (sense) - that represents a co-design tool to involve people with autism, their families and the professionals in the briefing of the project. It aims at disseminating knowledge and best practices about enabling living environments and it can be implemented with people's experiences and research innovations.