Located on an expansive 26-acre campus in Jupiter, Florida, the Els Center of Excellence offers multiple, innovative programs designed to meet the needs of individuals with autism, and the parents, caregivers, educators, and therapists who support them. Completed in 2017, the 13,000 square foot Sensory Arts Garden creates an inclusive, sensory rich therapeutic outdoor environment that supports individuals with autism and enhances their capacity to work, play, socialize, and learn.
The garden’s program, design, and construction involved a close collaboration between the landscape architect, the Executive Director of Els for Autism®, and an occupational therapist. The evidence-based design process, integrating sensory integration, universal design, attention restoration, and prospect and refuge theories, sought to create a space where everyone could thrive. The garden offers choice in how it is experienced, balancing alerting and calming sensory experiences to help allay anxiety and elevate the senses. With areas for engagement and retreat and comfortable transition spaces between, the garden provides opportunities for five senses gardening in ‘rooms’ along the vertical access of the garden; social activities like yoga, storytelling, music; learning spaces; and tranquil “places away” to seek quiet and to self-regulate. Throughout the garden are musical instruments and water features, including a dramatic water wall to interact with. Safety and security concerns are reflected in the overall design, details, and material selection. Smooth and consistent surfaces, strong and durable materials, and designs that eliminate awkward corners address potential collisions and adverse reaction. Careful selection and placement of plant materials ensures safety and minimizes untoward negative sensory responses. The secured, enclosed space provides clear sight lines throughout allowing staff and family members to observe students at a distance as they discover the garden on their own.
The garden’s success has opened opportunities for community outreach. After school hours the garden is open to the public and is available for social and cultural events. Within a lush and safe setting, the garden provides opportunity and choice for each visitor, regardless of capacity, to engage with nature on their own terms, in their own way, and at their own pace.
