Studying How the Built Environment Shapes Social Engagement in Autistic Children

When I first imagined creating a residential community for autistic individuals who outlive their caregivers, my inspiration came from my own family. My cousin Hailey is profoundly autistic, and my family often wonders what will happen to her when my aunt is no longer able to care for her. That concern planted the seed for a dream: a community where individuals like Hailey could continue to live, learn, and thrive even as their caregivers age.

Many years ago I contacted an architect to help me draw up a community. Although the community is still a dream, this process led me to research how the built environment impacts autistic children’s social engagement and development. That vision inspired the research I have been conducting at Bloom, studying how the built environment impacts an autistic child’s ability to socially engage.

In my waiting room, we created three distinct environments for families to interact with their children. Each space looks different. The first environment is plain, with typical waiting room furniture. The second environment is more cluttered, filled with toys and sensory items. The third environment has more comfortable seating and softer lighting to encourage relaxation and natural interaction.

We are using the Social and Emotional Growth Chart by Stanley Greenspan to measure how children engage socially with their parents in each environment. The goal is to understand how physical spaces can either support or hinder social connection.

Conducting this study has required rethinking our front office, moving furniture repeatedly, and carefully redesigning each environment for every new family. It has been challenging and sometimes stressful but I have learned a lot. Today, completing the in-person study felt like a huge milestone.

Next, we will analyze the data, review the videos, and write up our findings. I will be the lead writer, and I am excited to share what we have learned. This research is just the beginning, and I hope it sparks conversations about designing environments that truly support autistic children and their families.

Stay tuned for updates, I can’t wait to share what our study found.