Healing gardens for Autism Spectrum individuals
Dated 23/02/21
In this busy world, creating a garden with the integration of facilities that cater sensory processing activities are a perfect way to improve the sensory development of ASD individuals.Therapeutic gardening or horticultural therapy is an emerging intervention to help spectrum individuals stimulate the senses of sight,smell,touch,taste and sound thereby helping them with Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID).Studies have shown that sensory gardens reduces anxiety,depression,anger and ADHD in children
Each and everyone in our community can start a sensory garden either in the corner of a room ,terrace or directly in the courtyard based on the availability of space and sunlight.However, there are certain precautions to be taken into account while selecting a garden space.The selected space should be safe and away from urban noises in particular. If the individual is sensitive to sunlight due to medications ,choosing a space with filtered light is most preferable.
How to design a garden
The core principle of designing a garden depends on allocating spaces depending on the availability of sunlight,water body or inclusion of water body and green patches.Divide the area to include the following as much as possible considering individual differences and personal choices.
1.Animal zone.
Inclusion of a pet cat,trained dog or fishes in a small aquarium, gardening of butterfly plants (Sesbania,Cosmos,Crotalaria,Murraya, Caesalpinia etc) to overcome sensory integration issues, emotional regulation and management skills.
Pet therapy is a wonderful way to stimulate social interaction and to reinforce basic task acquisition and completion.
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| Therapy dog ©️ |
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2.Sensory play zone
Sensory play zone can be an exciting area,full of vibrant colours,scents ,calm sounds and provisions for tactile inputs(textured materials,pebbles,mats,grass etc) to increase the academic benefits by stimulating multiple senses .Include a hammock swing,therapy balls provisions for swinging,spinning,sliding, climbing ,crawling etc.
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| Grass for texture |
3.Aquatic zone..
Water therapy plays an integral part of a spectrum individual, which wouldn't always necessarily means swimming.Try to include small fountains,waterfalls etc as the sound of the trickling water and the sensation of the water itself is calming for an ASD individual.
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4.Horticultural zone.
Greening is a way of living.Try to incorporate a variety of plants which will help calm the senses,helps nutrition and relaxes one's mind.
Add the following to a Horticultural patch.
a)Aromatic plants like Jasmine,Mint, Coriander,Curry leaves,Basil,Lavender,Coleus barbatus( Panikoorka) etc
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| Coleus barbatus ©️ |
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| Aromatic lemon vine ©️ |
b)Include vibrantly flowering plants for visual stimulation like Caesalpinia,Cosmos,Celosia,Pentas,Portulacas,Marigolds,Ixoras,Chrysanthemums and variegated leaf plants.
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| Shankpushpi ©️ |
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| Coloured coleus ©️ |
c)Edible plants to incorporate tastes.For example Stevia and Miracle Berry (sweet) ,Neem and bitter gourd (bitter) Gooseberry ,Ivygourds ,Basil(sour)Peppers (heat)
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d)Tactile plants for observation and sensation.
Including insectivorous plants,touch me not,Gynura etc will help the individual to learn and relax.
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| Gynura for texture ©️ |
5.Acoustic zone
Depending on individual preferences and wind directions ,adding wind chimes or small fountains will be an exciting area for some individuals.
Participate the individuals right from planning to execution and management particularly that of the horticultural zone.Individuals can start observing, right from the germination of seeds to the different plant growth phases,ageing of leaves,removal of debris,watering, fertilising, arrival of insects as pollinators and many more.
Precautions.
*Consider individual differences
*Select a safe area and an adult supervision is always necessary
*Avoid planting latex exuding, poisonous and spiny or thorny plants in the horticultural zone based on the individual.
*Consider shade plants or indoor gardening for sunlight sensitive individuals.
Gardening is a way not only for regulating issues related to sensory processing but it helps the parents and caretakers to have a relaxing and calming atmosphere.
Memories and excerpts
Catherine Figarado ,a banker by profession suggested to add a sandpit, while setting a sensory garden and some of the readers will have a pleasant memory of writing in sand during their toddler years in the "Aashankalari". Sensory play in the sand pit is not only tactile and excites the nerves at the fingertips but also helps to develop social skills and eye -hand coordination
Gina Vijayakumar,parent and all in all for us, suggested a bird feeding or a watering area to be added for the local and migratory birds considering the climate change and she pointed out that it will help the individuals learn empathy and compassion towards mother nature.She also suggested raising ornamental birds and small scale animal farming like a few domestic fowls for organic eggs , provided space is not a limiting factor.Gina also suggested the necessity of teaching composting considering waste management and mineral recycling from wastes to the garden.Rope ladders would be a good addition to a sensory garden ,she added.
Jayalakshmi K.R, Adjunct Faculty at National Child Development Council, expressed her thoughts on the relevance of outdoor activities away from the confined classroom learning.She doubted on the efforts taken by parents and caretakers ,on the amount of time they allocate for an actual outdoor experience, a spectrum child receives.As an educator and a hard-core animal lover, particularly cats and dogs,she expressed her experiences on how her pets brought about an array of positive behavioural changes in her own children and her students.She suggested adding small tents and inviting friends for a sleep over to develop social skills. She stated that "Anything which is connected to nature ,and keeps our kids off electronic gadgets is always a warmly welcome initiative from the parents and caretakers side" .Her thoughts and statements are definitely something to be introspected and reflected on.Jayalakshmi also shared her knowledge on how a family empowered their spectrum son to take up gardening as a recreational activity who has now all grown up into a very successful animal breeder and farmer.Though not everyone will be passionate, some will always find a way to make a living out of it.
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| Pet cat,Jayalakshmi K.R ©️ |
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| Admiring each element of nature ©️ |
Lakshmi Jayakrishnan,Consultant Psychologist, SKILLS suggested that greening should always start with commonly available flowering plants like Rose,Jasmine,Hibiscus ,Chrysanthemums, Ixoras and locally available fruit trees like Mangoes,Guavas,Musas etc.This will help the family to enjoy seasonal fruits and veggies and she pointed out the advantage as it's "the first step towards natural environment training".Individuals will develop a sense of responsibility and helps to schedule day to day activities with a commitment towards nature.
Priti Vadakkath, a prominent artist based in Kochi,Celebrity chef featured in various magazines and a plantswoman suggested to include common medicinal plants for herbal use eg.Turmeric,Hibiscus,Phyllanthus,Sida,Neem,Basil,Mint,Coriander,Shankpushpi etc.She cautioned on eliminating poisonous and toxic plants of any kind since spectrum individuals might mouth leaves or flowers.
Her own garden has inspired her to make the best eye catching edible flower cakes or gfcf cakes and cookies and it should be mentioned since mental health and peace is a necessity for parents and caretakers as well.
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| Cookies with edible real flowers, Priti Vadakkath ©️ |
She felt that learning hands on growing plants and nurturing will forever be etched in the memories of a spectrum individual.She also suggested including swings,rope ladders,tunnels and tyre swings made of ecofriendly materials like wood using least plastic, based on her experiences enjoying various gardens in Bangalore.She threw us some light on Kilikili method
https://www.kilikili.org/index.html
Sindhu Saiprasad,mother of an adult in the spectrum and a certified special educator by profession suggested to incorporate everything that stimulates visual,auditory,olfactory,tactle,gustatory, vestibular and proprioceptive sensations.She pointed out the relevance of interacting with flora and fauna around us which elicits emotions like joy,peace ,scientific curiosity and fascination.According to her landscaping the terrain with slopes and hills ,adding flowering trees and plants,fountains,shade trees,benches,textured pathways, bird feeders,pebbles,opportunity to play with clay and sand,wind chimes,scented plants etc should be included.She also expresses her views that sensory gardens if ,built on a bigger space should be accessible to all irrespective of any tag and revealed her pleasant memories in such elaborate gardens in Secunderabad,all around the Hussain Sagar Lake.Priti and Sindhu stressed on the fact that no matter how big or small the gardens be, it should be wheelchair and vision impaired friendly.
Dedicated to the parents and caretakers of individuals in the spectrum.
Swapna Jose Luke,
Parent ,
Former Biochemistry Lecturer .
Reference.
Prasanna G.L
Developmental Therapist
Child development Centre
Medical College ,Trivandrum.
Images are subject to copyright ©️
By
ASD Parents and Therapists,Kerala ,2021
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