Housing design which supports independent living for autistic people

The environment in which autistic people live can have a profound impact on their health and well-being. Living in a society designed for neurotypical people adds to many of the daily challenges autistic people experience. Providing the right setting can help enhance motivation, confidence and self-esteem to support their specific needs, resulting in a better quality of life. One indicator of the quality of life is independent living. However, research in housing design related to supporting independent living for autistic people is still limited, as is research about autistic people’s experiences. This PhD research therefore project aims to investigate how architectural design affects autistic people’s experiences of independent living.