Analysis and Interpretation of Educational Space Needs for Differently-abled children

Analysis and Interpretation of Educational Space Needs for Differently-abled children

Sanjay Centre for Special Eduction, Porvorim, Goa

Introduction

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is to a broad range of conditions characte skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication. The me is presently inadequately equipped with means for sensitive management o the inadequacies, The Blank Slate conducted surveys Teachers and Paren needs, that aided us in understanding their needs and aspirations, and othe development of children with ASD. The was conducted using Survey Legen

This survey saw participation from teachers and parents from all around the responses were recorded.

A varied questionnaire was prepared for parents and teachers to understan problems faced while managing children with ASD. The Questionnaire aim development of infrastructure in such schools.

A total of 250 responses were collected and processed. The questionnaire Activities preferred by children, Sensitivity of children to certain things, Cha required for them.

erized by challenges with social ental health infrastructure in India of Autism. In order to understand nts of students with special er factors that help in growth and nd.

e country, and individual

nd their preferences and ms to delineate the concept for the

focuses on four major aspects: allenges faced and Development

Methods and Tools

Overview

Survey Legend is a portal to conduct interactive surveys in the form of questionnaires. The survey was conducted using this medium. A link to the questionnaire was sent to the participants, that opened up the form where all responses were entered and recorded. Two distinct questionnaires were prepared to be sent to parents and teachers. A compiled report of all the recorded responses is generated through Survey Legend, which includes statistical data like pie charts and bar graphs used further in this report.

The questions asked were of three different types, drafted to imbibe data about all aspects about the subject.

Type A: Multiple Checkbox List with Images

Type B: Multiple Checkbox List without Images

Type C: Individual Response Fields

Type D: Singe Choice Question

FACTORS TAKEN INTO AC

1

2

ACTIVITIES

SENSITIVITY

CCOUNT IN THE SURVEY

3

4

CHALLENGES

DEVELOPMENT

Activities

1

2

Learning through Games, Storytelling and Hands-on experiences is preferred.

Slides and Swings are the most approachable by children in a garden.

6 Outdoor proves more effective in development of motor skills.

Dancing, W Singing an some the c

7 Outdoor proves more effective in conducting therapy sessions.

4

5

Motor Development and Real Life Situations create more interactive environment in corridors

Painting and Cooking are the most preferred methods of teaching.

3

Water Games, nd cooking are hobbies of children.

8 Natural canopies are preferred over artificial canopies.

9 Swimming and Wall Climbing provides maximum aid in development

1 Games, Story Telling and Hands-on experience are preferred methods of teaching.

When asked about the preferred methods of teaching the students, responses given by teachers and parents on similar lines. Both studies show that children learn better through games.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Singing Photography Sports visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile (VAKT method of teaching) Playway Method

Modelling

Competition

Experimentation and Demonstration

18%

19%

Story Telling

Games

8%

12%

Role Play

11%

10%

8%

13%

10% Hands On

11%

9%

Illustration

Drama

8%

16%

12%

9%

Project

10%

Group Discussion

0%

11%

Tactile Learning

Distribution of preference of various methods of teaching

PARENTS

TEACHERS

2 Slides and Swings are the most utilized and desired by children in a garden.

When asked about the features a garden should include, the survey shows that the most enjoyable features in a garden for kids are slides, swings and bridges.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Sand Pit

Sensory Walkway

Gym

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12% 14%

Balancing Bridge Slide Climbing Zones Playful Terraces Inclusive Ramps Inclusive Games Magic Beams Diy Corner Swing Adventure Activities Art Zones Graph showing the distribution in preference of different elements in a garden

PARENTS

TEACHERS

3 Dancing, Water Games, Singing and cooking are some common hobbies of the children.

Parents were asked about the hobbies of their children. The responses highlight common hobbies among the children of the surveyed parents. They enjoy Cycling, painting, dance and sports.

jumping COOKING painting

Dancing Reading storybooks Cycling

Sports Dramatization writing Reading storybooks Singing Building blocks

WATER GAMES

Art and Craft work Working with Computer Common Hobbies of the Children

4 Motor Development and Real Life Situations create a more interactive environment in a corridor When asked about the elements they would like to see in a corridor, Parents and Teachers prefer motor development activities and real life situations to decorate the school corridors. Corridors are transitional spaces, hence it is important to make these spaces interactive for children

RECOMMENDATIONS: Remove furniture

Aquarium

Sensory Wall

Painting

S

16%

19%

15%

14%

11%

Motor Development Real Life Situation

9% 11% The Positive Path

10%

7%

Seating With Storage

10%

10%

Act of Kindness

14%

14%

Maths Games

9%

15%

12%

Wall of Hope

Self Introspection Distribution of preference of elements in a corridor

PARENTS

TEACHERS

5 Painting and Cooking are the most preferred Indoor activities.

The participants were asked about the children's' most preferred indoor activity.

The results suggest the most common ones being painting, dancing and cooking.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Competitions Dramatization Hands On Board games Contact sport Audio Visual

Photography Zumba

General Exercise Martial Art

18%

13%

Painting

11%

0%

Block Building

8% Music

3% Theatre

9%

5%

16%

14%

Dancing

2%

3%

String Art

6%

Sensory Art

8%

6%

0%

Stamp Painting

9%

Hand Painting

3%

8% Cooking

7%

9%

Clay Art

5%

4%

6%

Sand Art

Distribution of preference among indoor activities

PARENTS

TEACHERS

6 Outdoor proves more effective in development of motor skills.

INDOORS

14% 52% 34% BOTH

OUTDOOR

When asked about the preferred environment for development of motor skills, most of the teachers find outdoor training important but the preference also varies with the child. Hence, both are preferred.

Outdoor Environments are preferred over indoor environments

Indoor Environments are preferred by a lesser number of children

PARENTS

TEACHERS

7 Outdoor proves more effective in conducting Therapy Sessions

When asked about the preferred environment for therapy, most of the teachers prefer outdoors but the preference also varies with the child.

Hence, indoors are also recommended.

55% 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

OUTDOORS

INDOORS

BOTH

Distribution of preference between indoors and outdoors for therapy

8 Natural canopies are preferred over artificial canopies.

Natural canopies consist of shade from deciduous trees and shading elements such as pergolas, green trellis and green canopies, which are preferred over artificial canopies.

Artificial Canopies

90%

80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Artificial Canopies

Natural Canopies

Distribution of preference between natural and artificial shade

PARENTS

TEACHERS

9

Swimming and Wall Climbing provide maximum aid for development of children.

When asked about the activities preferred by the children that aid development, swimming and wall climbing were the common answers

RECOMMENDATIONS:

DANCE AND MUSIC

CYCLING PATHWAYS

BRIDGES

BALL GAMES

24% 26%

Swimming 14% 19%

Magic Fountain 23% 20%

Wall Climbing

23% 22%

Trampoline 14% 10%

Archery Distribution of preference among developmental activities PARENTS

TEACHERS

Sensitivity

1

2

Children are most receptive to basic shades such as Red, Blue and Yellow.

Children calm down through Playing Outdoors, Listening Music and Eating. in a garden.

5 Most children find butterflies playful but some get irritated or remain indifferent.

6

Musical gam enhance sens children with

3

4

Children are more receptive to natural flooring like Grass, Mud and Sand.

6

mes and plates may sory development in h respect to Sound.

Sensory path design may enhance sensory development of children. with respect to touch.

7 Particular factors that bring about emotions like happiness, sadness, disturbance and anger in children

1

Children are most receptive to basic shades such as Red, Blue and Yellow.

Children absorb colour effortlessly and love to work with colour creatively, creating and making with colour will keep their attention on the project at hand and keep them focused.

Distribution of preference among colours

PARENTS

TEACHERS

2 Children calm down through Playing Outdoors, Listening Music and Eating.

When asked about calming activities for children, both teachers and parents agreed that when child is anxious or stressed, these calming activities and soothing techniques are great for helping them settle so they can move past any problem.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Story Reading

Dancing

Massage

Computers

Speech Therapy

Aerobic

Watching Cartoons Visual Sensory Toys

11%

14%

11%

Eating

8%

11%

Amidst Nature

7%

7%

Pets

6%

4%

Quite Isolation Zone

19% 15%

18%

10%

Meditation

Playing Outdoors

Rubik Cube

12%

3%

8%

6%

11%

Clay Modeling

5%

7%

Squishy Ball

13%

Music

Distribution of preference among calming activities

PARENTS

TEACHERS

3 Children are more receptive to natural flooring like Grass, Mud and Sand.

When asked about the most preferred flooring materials, if was found that the children are more active and creative when exposed to nature.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Bubble Mat Marble Titles

Bed and Blankets Rock

SAND

25%

GRASS

30%

20%

no effect

WOOD

5%

RUBBER

10%

MUD

15%

Distribution of preference among flooring materials

PARENTS

TEACHERS

4

Sensory path design may enhance sensory development of children with respect to touch.

When asked about tactile sensort elements to be included in the sensorial walls, both teachers and parents voted for sensory path made by natural elements and stones painted by kids. It helps kids focus, exercise and learn.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Soft Toys

Vibration Feelers for the deaf

Sounds of animals

27% 27%

Natural Elements 29% 25%

Stones painted by kids 25% 25%

Different size pebble

21% 18%

Informative Pathway Distribution of preference among tactile sensory elements

PARENTS

TEACHERS

5

Most children find butterfly playful but some get irritated or remain indifferent.

Irritated

28% 10% Indifferent

Playful

61%

When asked about children's perception towards insects and animals, it was found that children are attracted to the colours of a butterfly but some may develop allergies and get irritated whereas others may remain indifferent due to absence of sensitivity towards colours.

Perception of children towards insects and animals

6

Musical games and plates may enhance sensory development in children with respect to Sound.

MUSIC PLATES

35% 65% MUSICAL GAMES

When asked about the prefercene between different types of sound sources for sensorial integration, informal musical activities were found to influence the maturation of auditory discrimination and attention in preschool-aged children.

7 Particular factors that bring about emotions like happiness, sadness, disturbance and anger in children When asked about particular activities, colours, sound, light, texture or material that stimulates a child, the teachers and parents answered as follows

Happy

Zumba and Swinging

Playing

Velvet cloth and smooth surfaces

Stretching Sad

Angry

Disturbing

Rough and thorny material

Withdrawal of toys or activity Change in seating arrangement

Art and Craft

Colours Black Colourless walls and Red

Not allowed to participate in activities

Walking

Rubbing of blackboard

Rough texture

Heat

Confusing Activity Contrasting Colours

Loud disorganized noises

Outdoor games

Toys

Water, bubbles, patterns

Rainbow colours on walls

Learning their lessons

Different Smells

Clay Upbeat modelling Music

Too much movement

A broad range of elements can act as emotional triggers

Red Colour Too much light

Emotional Issues

Challenges

1 Poor communication skills and Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are major challenges faced by children.

4 Reading is the most challenging academic section for children. in a garden.

2

Children m difficulty with like Navigatio and Moto

5

As childre develop and g dexterity

2

may face basic skills on, Direction or Skills.

5

en begin to grow, some face problems.

3 As children begin to develop and grow, there are signs of possible motor skill difficulties.

6 Subjects that children find difficult may be taught by other tools and strategies.

1 Poor communication skills and Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are major challenges faced by children.

All the answers are given by the teachers which highlights all the difficulties faced by the children. Lack of Fine motor skills, malnutrition and lack of family support are one of the issues.

Lack of hand-eye coordination

Poor communication skills

Lack of Lack of fine and gross exposure to society motor skills and natural elementsPhysical Disability Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

family support

Delay in speech and language barrier Low Vision

Poverty and Malnutrition

Behavioural problems because of emotional disturbances

Delayed Milestone

Major challenges faces by children with ASD

2

Children may face difficulty with basic skills like Navigation, Direction and Motor Skills.

Both teachers and parents voted for navigation as major problem faced by growing children followed by direction and jumping. Few of also struggled with climbing and waking.

20%

15%

Jumping

21%

24%

26%

Navigation

19%

Climbing

20%

25%

Direction

13%

14%

Walking

PARENTS

TEACHERS

3

As children begin to develop and grow, there are signs of possible motor skill difficulties.

Parents listed out many motor skills difficulties faced by children.

These can be corrected, though with early intervention at school level by including activities and games that enhance motor skills.

Cycling

Catching

Direction

Cutting

Cutting Vegetables

Climbing

Crossing Hurdles Motor skill difficulties faced by children

4 Reading is the most challenging academic section for children.

When asked about what subjects children find the most challenging, teachers and parents agreed that children find reading more difficult than writing and maths. Academic concerns are also closely related to the mental health of children.

42%

36%

35%

28%

Reading

Writing

29%

30%

Maths

Distribution of the most challenging subjects as percieved by children

PARENTS

TEACHERS

5 As children begin to develop and grow, some face dexterity problems.

Dexterity is the ability to use your hands skillfully, fluently, quickly, and easily. Parents noticed that child fatigues quickly during fine motor activities and struggles with fine motor skills like cutting with scissors or manipulating small objects.

Fine Motor Skills Tying Shoe Laces Eating Food Holding Pencil Cutting with Scissors Bad Handwriting Work a Zipper

Challenges with dexterity faced by the children

6

Subjects that children find difficult may be taught by other tools and strategies.

Parents and teachers suggested various strategies based on interest of their child which may be used for teaching difficult subjects easily.

Modelling

Group Dramatization Discussions Competitions

Videos

Practical

Personal Attention

Art and Craft

PICTURES

Mobile apps

Hands on

Flash Cards

PLAYWAY METHOD

Visual Graphics Story Based Study Material Alternative tools and stratergies that can be incorporated into teaching

Development

1 Tactile Environment and Competitions improve the growth of the child.

4 Creative workshop under school supervision helps in development of children.

2

Swimming and W provide maxim development o

5

Sensory elements positive development recommended by th

2

Wall Climbing mum aid in of children.

5

s that can aid t of children, as he participants

3 Suggestions and factors to be taken into account when designing various typologies of spaces

6 Recommendations to improve the conditions of individual spaces

1 Tactile Environment and Competitions improve the growth of the child.

All the options are suggested by the teachers helps in improving the strength of the children,. tactile environments, competitions and many other activities improve the skills of children.

SPEECH THERAPY Hands on

Sensorial Vocational Skills Integration Competitions Motivation and Enthusiasm

Physiotherapy

Assistive Software Extracurricular activities

Sports and Games Tactile environments

Interaction with other students and teachers

2 Natural elements like birds, butterflies and flora affect children positively.

All the options have good response from the teachers and parents.

This shows child's growth rate is high when they are in a natural environment. Aquarium and Vegetable Gardening is also preferred by children.

RECOMMENDATION:

Aquarium

Vegetable Gardening

Sand Pit

Hydrotherapy

19% 22%

Birds 24% 23%

Inclusive Garden 19% 19%

Butterflies 12% 15%

Puddle Pool 22% 19%

Flowering Shrubs

PARENTS

TEACHERS

3 The following were the suggestions and factors to be taken into account when designing various typologies of spaces

COURTYARD SPACE

GARDENING SPACE

ACTIVITY AREA

CORRIDOR AREA

Courtyard Space

Gardening Section

Activity Area

Corridor Space

Seating arrangement

Water Body

Lawn Space

Flora

Accessibility

Variety of Texture

Storage Space

Increasing height of pots

Variety

Ease of Use

Provide computer games

Ventilation

Medicinal Trees

Provide space for circulation

Water Supply

Variety in activities

Colour coding of spaces

Incline it towards academics

Non-slippery tiles Obstacle-free path

Other Space

Safety

Stairs with math tables

Display of Children's activity Numbers and Alphabets

Inclusivity for all students

Vertical Garden

Rubber matting

Colour coding of spaces

All open spaces must be assigned a function

4 Creative workshop under school supervision helps in development of children.

Parents were asked whether they'd like their child to participate in a creative workshop to design and build a small part of the school under adult supervision, to get hands-on experience, the response was positive.

NO YES

13%

87%

5 Sensory elements that can aid positive development of children, as recommended by the participants When asked about other elements that can aid positive development of children, apart from the ones mentioned in the survey, the following options came to the fore.

Ramps

Sand Pit

Swings and Slides

Cycling

Sensory Zones

Teaching Learning Material

Play park

Occupational Therapy

Montessori play equipment

Obstacle Course

6 The following were the recommendations to improve the conditions of individual spaces

Sanjeevani Saksham Section

Shraddha Section

Shruti Section

Special Faculty

Physiotherapy sensory Play area Equipment zone Irregular water supply in toilets

Furniture

A quiet corner

Space for to carry out vocational skills

Unavailability of space Classroom space for games indoors

Open space

Bocce court

No space for Black Board

Football turf and indoor facility

No quite Unavailability of space Provisions should be made to carry out teaching in different methods and benches conner

Unavailability of space for games indoors

No quite conner

Audio-visual aid or smart boards

Speech Absence of therapy room ramps

Football turf and indoor facility

Acoustic rooms for speech therapy

Unavailability of sensory zone

Play ground

Audio instruction in lifts

Rubber matting

A quiet corner

The surveys were conducted kee vision and demonstrate potential

The survey conducted by The Bla more precise and accurate analys different perspective. Parents gav on observation of groups of childr most of the questions which stren

The set of questions tries to get a questions are categorized in four survey maximum votes were bag creativity. We also came to know navigation etc.

Conclusion

eping in mind the varied interests of the user group to generate a collective l design possibilities.

ank Slate used two different questionnaires for teachers and parents to create sis. We tried to look at the lifestyle and difficulties of growing children from two ve a detailed view of individual child whereas answers of teachers were based ren. However, the survey converges when they both showed similar votes for ngthen our trust in the survey as a reliable source for further design strategies.

a holistic view of factors that influence development of children. The r heads that is activities, sensitivity, challenges and development. In the gged by activities that exposed children more to nature and enhances their w about major difficulties faced by children such as fine motor skills,