Enabling Spaces can have a positive impact on people’s lives, and for me it’s personal.

I grew up in the beautiful country town of Toodyay just north-east of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. I always had an interest in design and in fact received my first design award while in high school for a sign for a local park – it’s still there today! Around the same time, I helped my Dad with the layout of wall units for our newly renovated family home and I was hooked. Throughout my career I have worked with families designing their new homes and renovations and businesses and local governments on a variety of projects from a rural railway museum shed to an inner city ambulance depot and dispatch centre. I have been fortunate to have a variety of life experiences that I believe contribute to the way I understand my clients needs and approach each design.

I have been blessed with 6 beautiful grandchildren, my eldest grandson Jacson was born with Down Syndrome and later diagnosed with Autism. When he was diagnosed, I discovered a report by an architect in the U.S. and realised how much our built environment affects someone with sensory and cognitive challenges,and I wanted to do something about it, so I continued researching. This research was expanded internationally after receiving a Churchill Fellowship. I now combine over 25 years of building design experience with specialised expertise in leading practice architectural strategies for autism and other neuro-diversity informed by my research.

With Enabling Spaces™ we can positively impact our community by making our built environment supportive places for individuals on the autism spectrum and the wider neurodiverse community.

Download my report here.

Download Report

Credentials & Positions

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Churchill Fellow

Member Australian Autism Research Council (AARC)

Member Leadership Advisory Board “A Place in the World” research by Arizona State University Morrison Institute

Co-Founder and Director of the Enabling Spaces Foundation of Australia

Accredited member of the Building Designers Association of Western Australia (BDAWA)

Presenter – national and international. Specialist subject matter, designing an enabling built environment for individuals with autism.

BDAWA Judges Commendation – Residential, Toodyay Residence

BDAWA Design Excellence Winner – Residential, Roleystone Residence

BDAWA Design Excellence Finalist – Residential, Hovea Renovation

National Association of Building Designers Design Finalist – Residential, Roleystone Residence

Contribution to Research

Since undertaking my own research into how the built environment affects individuals with autism, I have been privileged to have been invited to contribute to ongoing research by various organisations for different projects. I am fully committed to contributing in any way I can as the benefits for those that depend on it are immeasurable.

I was honoured to join First Place Arizona and the Autism Housing Network in the creation of “A Place in the World”, a groundbreaking report on housing and community development for individuals with autism and other neurodiversities. As a member of the leadership advisory board, I travelled to Phoenix in 2019 and spent several days with other collaborators, and presented the findings of my research to the wider leadership symposium. Further information can be found on their website.

Other projects are still underway, and remain confidential. Keep in touch to hear about them once released.

Contribution to the Design Industry

As a student and graduate, I was grateful to have the benefit of experienced designers to mentor me as I began my career, this example along with my ethos of contributing has seen me give back to the industry over the years in a variety of ways.

BDAWA state and national Design Excellence Awards judging
Housing Industry Association (HIA) – Housing Excellence Awards, Kitchen and Bathroom Association design awards judging

Mentoring graduates

BDAWA previous committee member, various positions over 17 years.

A few of my clients

Email: shelly.dival@enablingspaces.com.au
Mobile: 0433 510 416
Offices: Toodyay and Subiaco by appointment.
Time zone: Australian Western Standard Time (AWST)