Design for Independent Living

1. Affordance

  • 1.3 Non-text

    Non-text components are used in environmental cues (e.g. concrete figures, numbers, symbols, colors, etc.)

  • 1.7 Environmental Cue

    The environmental cues – e.g. signage, landmarks, visual instructions, etc. – are appropriately located at decision-making points, where the activities are to be performed.

2. Restoration

  • 2.1 Natural Light

    The student is provided the opportunity to natural light.

  • 2.2. Low Arousal (Tactile)

    Indoor temperature is consistently controlled.

  • 2.4. Low Arousal (Olfactory)

    Indoor air quality is consistently controlled.

  • 2.5 Naturalness

    Natural features are found inside of the building (e.g. materials, artwork, plants, etc.).

3. Control

  • 3.3 Multisensory

    Multiple physical setting options are provided for variation in sensory condition and easy access (e.g. sensory rooms; high vs. low stimulus zones; containment vs. openness; with vs. without background sound; etc.).

  • 3.4 Low Arousal (Auditory)

    Noise is controlled by the remote placement of noise sensitive spaces from spaces known to be noise producing.

4. Coherence

  • 4.2 Visual Access

    Clear visual access for the student is provided (e.g. use of half-walls, preview windows, open shelves/floorplans, etc.).

  • 4.3 Compartmentalization

    Each room (or area) has a single function and is defined with a clear boundary.

  • 4.6 Efficient Circulation

    The students' major routes are direct and short (e.g. from entrance to a classroom, a classroom to restrooms, external play areas, etc.).