Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) and Garden

Abstract

Garden culture, which emerges in different ways in different cultures and is shaped according to the social, cultural and ecological conditions of societies, is one of the living spaces of human beings from past to present. Especially in landscape architecture studies, the garden has a great importance in bringing autistic individuals to life within the framework of designs for human health, psychology and in their physical, spiritual and cognitive development. In this study, it is aimed to determine the garden design approach for autistic individuals who have difficulties in social interaction and communication. In this context, the concept of garden and autism was discussed in detail, and the points to be considered in garden designs that appeal to the senses and development of autistic individuals were tried to be determined. As a result of the study, the importance to design gardens that support social skills and environmental education, which are integrative with green spaces that have high sensory stimulation, in a way that encourages their mental development, where autistic individuals can act with their own free will without restricting their movement and behavior was revealed once again. In addition, the necessity of creating spacious spaces with natural vegetation and large green areas, which provide various sensory opportunities to these individuals, especially in bringing autistic individuals to life, arises. For this purpose, it was emphasized that joint studies should be carried out with different professional disciplines, so that such studies will play an important role in the social development of individuals with autism by contributing to their physical, psychological and cognitive development as well as their social development. © Peter Lang GmbH Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften Berlin 2021 All rights reserved.