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Awards, Equity, Parks

Designed for Differences

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An award-winning new outdoor space in Ohio focuses on the autistic experience.

By Maci Nelson, Associate ASLA

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder enjoy the garden both independently and with support.
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder enjoy the garden both independently and with support. Photo by Richard Mandelkorn.

In early 2020, Toronto-based Virginia Burt, FASLA, received a cold call and invitation to meet for pizza and discuss a garden project in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. The garden would honor the memory of the family’s child, Morgan, whose favorite hobby was gardening, and who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The proposed garden would replace the existing courtyard at the Monarch Center for Autism and its Lifeworks Program, which cared for Morgan, and provides prevocational training and support for people with autism who experience severe emotional, physical, and social challenges. Continue reading Designed for Differences →