An ASID Industry Partner through Allsteel, A.J.Paron-Wildes, ASID, is an advocate for making interior environments places of healing. With a focus on designing for autistic children, Paron-Wildes has helped ensure that homes, occupational and speech therapy offices, schools, group homes, specialized autistic centers and other venues are correctly designed with their needs in mind.

“I really try to open up the eye of designers to think about how senses, if they’re altered, can change your experience of design,” says Paron-Wildes. “We need to pay attention to how toxicity affects each person, to make sure we’re creating the healthiest possible environment. In my dreams, the design community would adapt more of that understanding so that Universal Design would incorporate more of the sensory changes that we see in  patients who experience the world differently. All these neurological issues are becoming more prevalent due to environmental issues, accidents and wars.  Throughout the continuum of life, from children with autism to seniors with Alzheimer’s, this is a huge need that is only going to get worse.  As designers, we need to think and design differently.”

Read an interview with with A.J. Paron-Wildes