Emotion Map
Research shows that people with autism can be attracted to small or cramped spaces, that it provides some kind of sensory relief and that it can even have a calming effect. (1) (2).
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The simple idea of this project is that children will want to stay seated if they enjoy being seated.
[1] - Vogel, C.L. Classroom Design for Living and Learning with Autism. Autism Asperger’s Digest; Future Horizons: Arlington, VA, USA, 2008. [Google Scholar]
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[2] - Kinnaer, M., Baumers, S., & Heylighen, A. (2015). Autism-friendly architecture from the outside in and the inside out: An explorative study based on autobiographies of autistic people. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 31(2), 179–195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-015-9451-8
A student with autism feels overstimulated, and gets the urge to stand up and move. They are unresponsive to the teacher's words.
The teacher decides how to work with the student of against them. She tells them to sit at the Cheese Table at the other end of the room until they calm down.
The student angrily squeezes themself into the crevice of the table and works or plays until their energy is relieved.
Eventually, the student is calmed.
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Incident
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Active, energetic, overstimulated
Discipline
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Ashamed, Rebellious​
Reaction
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Frustration
Resolution
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Calm, relief
The table is designed for Pre-k/kindergarten and special ed classrooms. The table is made of a rotomolded plastic for durability and safety. It is impact-resistant, so children won't hurt themselves on it. This is particularly important with autistic children, since their propriocentric senses are developed later than other children.
Sketches
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