Philippine Center for Autism

Philippine Centre for Autism:  A Sensory Sensory Sensitive Sensitive Approach Approach in in designing designing an Autism Autism treatment treatment Center  Center 

I. Introduction

I.I

Background of the study

 Autism Spectrum Spectrum Disorder. Disorder. It is described described simply as a developmental developmental disorder that that can appear in the first 3 years of life. It affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills. The spectrum refers to to the varying degrees in which its characteristics manifest themselves within the host. hile some may simply suffer from difficulties with social interactions and skills! oftentimes! autism might mean completely nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Some "# odd years ago! not much research or insight had been put into this developmental disorder. Statistics says that one in forty$two boys (1 in 42) boys 42)  boys are most commonly suffering from ASD than in girls which is only one in one hundred eighty$nine  (1 in 189). In the %hilippines! there is an alarming growth which estimates the number of autistic persons from 500000  in  in &##' to 1 to  1 mi!!ion at mi!!ion at present. (urrently! there are non$profit organi)ations reaching out to this people to create public awareness because ASD can be critically treated on the early stages of life of the children. The Autism Society of the %hilippines is one of those *+,s that increases public awareness about challenges faced by -ilipinos on the spectrum! advocating for appropriate services and providing the latest information regarding intervention! education and advocacy. It is comprised of persons with autism! families! teachers! and educators whose lives have been touched by autism.

"#A !a$ma%er is ca!!ing &or the creation o& a nationa! center &or autism to address the needs o& the specia!i'ed group o& peop!e $ith autism spectrum disorders (AS) to he!p them ecome productive memers o& the community. *on. Scott avies S. +anete ,ep. Scott avies S. +anete (-rd istrict asate) said the creation o& the /hi!ippine Center &or Autism under *ouse i!! 581- is in consonance $ith the  po!icy o& the the State to promote promote an environment environment conducive conducive to to the deve!opmen deve!opmentt o& autistic autistic persons persons to ecome to the est o& their potentia!s independent se!&re!iant and productive memers o& society. he autism center sha!! e administered y a oard o& rustees composed o& seven memers to e appointed y the /resident o& the /hi!ippines. 3ne representative &rom the epartment o& *ea!th sha!! sit as chairperson $hi!e a representative &rom the epartment o& ducation sha!! sit as the vicechairman3 +anete said. he /hi!ippine Center &or Autism aims to promote pu!ic a$areness education and in&ormation on issues concerning autism6 esta!ish sustaina!e net$or%s o& support groups &or &ami!ies o&

autistic chi!dren and adu!ts and to provide re&erra! services to patients $ith autism and identi&y the appropriate educationa! and medica! e7pertise and &aci!ities suited to the needs o& the autistic person. t sha!! a!so endeavor to comat the spectrum o& disorders re!ated to autism through screening education ear!y intervention prompt re&erra!s &or treatment and services as $e!! as to underta%e research andor co!!aorate $ith other entities on research activities regarding autism in the /hi!ippines. +i%e$ise the /hi!ippine Center &or Autism sha!! underta%e to coordinate $ith schoo!s in &ormu!ating individua!i'ed programs &or autistic schoo! chi!dren and young students. he center is a!so authori'ed to receive donations and grants &rom internationa! donor institutions &oundations and mu!ti!atera! and i!atera! &oreign donor agencies invo!ved in the  prevention cure and rehai!itation o& persons $ith autism.  Another o:ective is to promote the advocacy against ias and stereotyping against autistics therey e!iminating discrimination andor misconception o& the notion o& eing autistic $ith the end vie$ o& opening the doors o& productive economic opportunities to autistic persons. he /hi!ippine Center &or Autism sha!! provide the avenue &or e7change o& in&ormation e7change programs and sharing o& est practices on issues re!ating to the ear!y detection  prevention cure treatment and rehai!itation o& persons diagnosed $ith autism among others. ;nder the measure the /hi!ippine Center &or Autism is directed to &ormu!ate and imp!ement an integrated and comprehensive master p!an6 create a diagnostic therapeutic and rehai!itation c!inic and provide vocationa! training programs &or autistic adu!ts. he /hi!ippine Center &or Autism sha!! provide &ree diagnosis and rehai!itation services to indigent autistic and to provide continuing training programs &or teachers therapists and medica!. he autism center is a!so tas%ed to provide other services such as counse!ing orientation and re&erra! and increase a$areness and concern on autism y spearheading advocacy programs.
 Architecture! as a profession! is responsible for creating environments that accommodate the needs of all types of users. Individuals with special needs should not be eempt from such accommodation. %ersons with disabilities most especially need to have an enhanced mobility for them to participate fully in the social life and the development of the societies in which they live.

I.2

Statement of the problem

(urrently! two hospitals in the %hilippines! which include! the %hilippine +eneral /ospital and the %hilippine (hildren’s 0edical (enter! established a registry to keep a record of the number of incidences of autism. /aving doctors who are able to detect early signs of autism is a vital key to ensuring that early intervention services can be delivered to those children. There are also regional! small scale rehabilitation centres that cater the needs of persons diagnosed with ASD! though this cannot accommodate the alarming growth of the autistic persons. /owever! the needs of an autistic person do not only fall in detecting early signs but to those who are diagnosed with this disease! they need to be in an environment that has its main focus in curing children and adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder 1ASD2. The research of the study aims to answer the uestions as follows4 • 

*o$ can the design organi'ation and arrangement o& spaces $ithin the proposed

• 

centre a&&ect the user> ?hat is the potentia! o& the study $hich is creating a nationa! centre &or Autism> Cou!d peop!e $ith autism adapt to current ui!t environment conditions>

•

I.3

Significance of the Study

The %hilippine (entre for Autism aims to promote public awareness! education! and information on issues concerning autism5 establish sustainable networks of support groups for families of autistic children and adults and to provide referral services to patients with autism and identify the appropriate educational and medical epertise and facilities suited to the needs of the autistic person. It shall provide the avenue for echange of information! echange programs and sharing of best practices on issues relating to the early detection! prevention! cure! treatment and rehabilitation of persons diagnosed with autism! among others.

I.

!oal and "b#ecti$e of the study %..%

!oal of the study The proposed development shall be the center for rehabilitation focused

on people suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder 1ASD2 through a Sensory sensitive approach wherein the focus is on what the individuals with autism can do rather than what they cannot. Aiming to be the national centre for Autism in the %hilippines! it will be the primary centre that will answer the needs of autistic persons and help patients to develop the emotional! social! vocational and intellectual skills needed to live! learn and work in the community with the least amount of professional help.

I..2

"b#ecti$es of the study

•

To become the spearhead dedicated on the rehabilitation of Autism Spectrum Disorder

•

1ASD2. To create an environment conducive to the development of autistic persons to become to

•

the best of their potentials! independent! self$reliant and productive members of society. To administer the sensory sensitive approach in architecture in consideration with the users in creating a thinking wherein the individuals with autism can do rather than what

•

they cannot. T opr o vi denat i onal l eader s hi pt hr oughar c hi t ec t ur et hei dent i fi cat i onofout c omes ,i ndi c at or s , an da s se ss me nt st omo ni t o rp eo pl ec ha l l e nge dwi t ht h ed i s or de r

I.&

Scope and 'elimitations

The %hilippine (entre for Autism is directed to formulate and implement an integrated and comprehensive master plan5 create a diagnostic! therapeutic and rehabilitation centre! provide vocational training programs for autistic adults which envisions to be a learning centre and a sensory garden which is considered to be an escaping area whenever an autistic user feels irritated and needs to calm his6her senses down.

I.(

)ustification of the Study *+,I-+,SS/

The centre intends to be the national agency catering the needs of people diagnosed with ASD. ith integrated treatment and learning facilities!

II. Sur$ey of 0elated 1iterature

,umber of people ith autism increasing By ayen )aymalin *4he Philippine Star/ A@+A /hi!ippines  The number of people with autism spectrum disorder 1ASD2 in the %hilippines and other countries worldwide has almost doubled in the past si years and the number is still rising.

7rlinda 8orromeo! Autism Speaks -oundation president! said one in 9' children worldwide has autism. The figure is way above the .: cases in every "!### children in the ";'#s and one in ""# children in &##'.

In the %hilippines! estimated cases of autism rose from :##!### in &##' to one million people at present.
/ealth eperts have attributed the increase to better detection methods! but genetics and environmental factors could also be among the causes.

 Autism is a developmental disorder with a range of difficulties in social! emotional and communication skills! which occurs in all racial! ethnic and socio$economic groups. It is more common among boys 1" in >&2 than girls 1" in "';2. 8orromeo’s group is pushing for the establishment of a comprehensive program to establish an up$to$date prevalence rate of autism in the %hilippines. /er group is working with the Department of /ealth and Department of Social elfare and Development to implement the program.

8orromeo said many parents from poor families are not aware that their children have autism and that is why their children do not get the right treatment and intervention.

7arly detection is very important in autism management! so 8orromeo’s group is also pushing for early screening for autism and other developmental disorders for children as young as "' months to four years.

<7arly intervention improves both brain and behavioral development and with them! a child’s long$term outcomes!= she eplained.

BIB1I"!0AP56 •

• • • • •

 A* A?(/IT7(T@?7 -,? A@TIS04 (oncepts of Design Intervention for the autistic user  http466www.congress.gov.ph6press6details.phppressidB''"' http466www.icare>autism.org6news6&#"&6#'6autism$the$filipino$eperience$&6 http466www.doh.gov.ph6node6399.html http466www.autismsocietyphilippines.org6 http466www.philstar.com6headlines6&#">6#>6"#6"3"#'>#6number$people$autism$ increasing