I have been blessed with six beautiful grandchildren. Jacson is my eldest grandson. He was born with Down Syndrome and, at the age of seven, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. I didn’t understand much about autism so, of course, I ‘Googled’. It’s then that I discovered the work being undertaken overseas on the relationship between architecture and autism. This intersection between them became my obsession. I learnt everything I could about how our built environment affects those with ASD. The more I learnt, the more realised Australia has a virtually non-existent pool of expertise in this area, and that there are thousands of individuals and families living with autism that could benefit from a more positive interaction with their built environment. After 25 years as a Building Designer, my professional and personal lives were now firmly meshed together.
In 2017, I applied for a Churchill Fellowship, which would allow me the opportunity to travel overseas to interview global leaders in the field of autism and the built environment. I will be forever grateful to the Churchill Trust of Australia for not only believing in the importance of my project, but also believing that I was a worthy recipient. I travelled on my Fellowship from March – May 2018. The trip took me literally around the globe, meeting with wonderfully generous people willing to share their expertise and experience with me. While my original focus was architecture for autism, my findings highlighted the application to the broader neurodiverse community.
Titled “Different Buildings for Different Minds” my report is a summary of conversations and observations made from looking at leading practice around the globe. It is just a small part of the knowledge gained from my research both here and abroad.
It is the start of a conversation between industry, government and most importantly individuals with autism and their families. I hope it is the beginning of change.
Postcards to Jacson is the series of blogs and memories I wrote while on my trip (and more I still need to write). Jacson is the inspiration for everything I do, every time I wrote a blog I thought of him, and while he was not old enough to read them at the time, one day I hope he has the ability to read them and enjoys my journey and know that he is as much a part of change as I am. You can find the blogs on the blog page, labelled as Postcards to Jacson.
Since returning from my fellowship research trip, I have (after having a big rest!) continued the conversation every chance I got. It’s so important to keep the momentum as there are so many people who can have positive outcomes with an appropriately designed built environment. I provide consulting services to individuals and families and a variety of different industries and organisations on designing for neurodiversity , and I am also in the process of developing resources for parents and professionals so stay in contact to see the latest developments.
Download my report here.
Insightful. Thought-provoking. A must-have resource for pioneers fueling a new wave of residential and work environment options for people with autism and other neuro-diversities. Thank you, Shelly, for connecting our passionate pursuits and global community through your inspired and neuro-inclusive work.
Necessity, history tells us, is the mother of invention. Never was this truer than when applied to the lived environment for people with autism. Not only is an enabling environment a necessity, it is a
basic human right. Those of us without cognitive challenges take for granted the ease with which we are able to navigate, understand and assimilate information from unfamiliar environments. For people with autism, the world and the spaces in which they live can be a constant source of anxiety.
Shelly Dival has taken this challenge, this necessity, and has innovatively sourced solutions to the difficulties that people with autism encounter on a daily basis. She starts from a position of knowledgeable authority, both in terms of her professional understanding of the built environment
and her personal passion in understanding autism. Creating a synergy between these two worlds is no mean feat. In striving to explore this synergy further, Shelly has gained knowledge, expertise and evidence from around the world with the benefit of the Churchill Fellowship. She has made exceptional use of the fellowship; planning an itinerary which saw her visit 5 countries on her mission to gather evidence. Having met Shelly during this tour, I can personally say she is one of the most dedicated practitioners I have met working in this field. She not only understands the challenges of living with autism, but truly appreciates how the built environment can impact upon or facilitate a person’s function.
I, like Shelly, share the dream that we can one day live in a world which is truly inclusive. It will take energy, enthusiasm, tenacity and creativity to achieve this. Shelly has the qualities, knowledge and drive required to bring about change. She did not embark upon this journey in half measures; she embarked upon it to succeed and I believe that she is exactly what the world of autism and design needs.
Email: shelly.dival@enablingspaces.com.au
Mobile: 0433 510 416
Offices: Toodyay and Subiaco by appointment.
Time zone: Australian Western Standard Time (AWST)
Shelly Dival CF
Connecting research, industry and community to create Enabling Spaces.
© Enabling Spaces 2021