Longevity, Expertise and Capability in Designing for Disability

• Producing designs for three new Autistic Schools in Victoria, Australia.
• In house disability research, with the capability to provide consultant demographic and social research for particular areas.
• Personalised services where design architects offer unique insights into design and offer ongoing support during the life of the project.
• Designs that represent many years of developing knowledge of what works in buildings supporting people with disabilities and how the buildings reflect the core values of the organisation and the people in them.
• A varied expertise across projects with autism that have enabled organisations involved to showcase their service to other providers in Australia and overseas.
• Designs build upon the many successful components that occur in the organisations and we take these components and build on them, offering a new potential to the service model and enhancing it.

The service philosophy and client/student profile should be the starting point of the design to produce a one off exciting solution based on the individual outcomes. Designs are centered around the people using the building, their experiences and those working with them.

Small spaces for medication, withdrawal, calming or reductions in distractions are designed off main spaces. Environments are created that are safe for clients and staff that cater for a range of behaviors. Creativity of the disabled is nurtured and spaces are designed to assist further development of the users rather than an institution where growth is diminished.

The design for the disabled should be uplifting, creative and offer dignity to the users as well as support and options for staff to maximise their productivity.