Presenter

Cambria Patrice Boyd-Thomas

Campus

UMass Dartmouth

Sponsor

Rose Mary Botti-Salitsky, Department of Interior Architecture + Design , UMass Dartmouth

Schedule

Session 3, 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A68, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 4 (A61-A80) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

As part of an innovative strategy this thesis, will establish a nonprofit Autism Awareness Institute with an adjacent urban space for the homeless. This thesis is a result of a personal experience that has impacted my life and has directed me in path to focus on. I am the researcher and will include personal observations throughout the document. My own first-hand exposure to the many forms of discrimination that people with disabilities still suffer today leads me to believe that the Americans with Disabilities Act and our communities are falling short in their efforts to aid this population. Individuals with disabilities, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries or experiencing homelessness, face significant challenges in accessing essential healthcare services. Emergency shelters and transitional housing provide basic necessities but are often overcrowded and may not offer long-term solutions. Homeless individuals face even more challenges, including access to essentials and extreme weather conditions. The point isn't to try and eradicate diversity, but rather to embrace it. A way to welcome diversity is to create something beautiful that serves a purpose. In all its forms, it represents a new way of thinking about how to design for the general population and a visual depiction of change. The concept is autism centered around the complexity of the brain.  As a more dominant right-brain thinker, the design aims to promote tolerance and inclusion by highlighting neurodiversity and advocating for better access to services and supports for autistic individuals.

Keywords

Interior Architecture and Design, Inclusiveness, Diversity, Urban , Thesis

Research Area

Architecture and Urban Planning

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