Background, History + Motivation

Background, History + Motivation

While looking at Autism rates within young children in the United States, it has been

noted that diagnoses have exponentially increased within the past three decades. More

specifically, in 2019, 1 in 36 children under the age of 4 were diagnosed with Autism in New

Jersey. 1 The highest rates of Autism ever in theUnited States have been measured in New Jersey

preschoolers, see Figure 1.4. This rate has “increased faster than in other states studied and the

rate of Autism among children there has tripled in a generation.” 2 The most common age range

for an official diagnosis is between the ages of two and three, which is the age where children are

beginning to enter the world of education. A preschool facility is essentially the first important

1 “Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder.”Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 2, 2021. 2 Washburn, Lindy. “NJ Preschoolers Have Highest AutismRates Ever in US, but Garden State Also Best at Reporting.” North Jersey Media Group, April 12, 2019.

educational environment that a child is to step foot in. Within typical-developing schools,

children with Autism have great difficulty within the built environment. This is due to the

everyday struggles with sensory dysfunctions, comprehension, and overall functioning. Research

has shown that schools have been designed for children with Autism in two specific approaches

in hopes to aid the environmental stimulation and allow students to thoroughly focus, control and

appreciate the space in which they are present. While appeasing the variations of Autism, it will

be important to incorporate both design approaches to create a space that will minimize

stimulation in some areas, while maximizing stimulation in others.

Figure 1.4

Aims + Objectives