Sean Ahlquist, assistant professor of architecture, participated in a panel discussion, “The Intersection of Autism, The Arts and Design,” at the recent Autism Action Partnership (AAP) Summit in Omaha, Nebraska. Titled “Life without Boxes: Enriching the Lives of Those on the Spectrum,” the AAP Summit demonstrated a progression in the design health/equity space by focusing on improving the quality of life of people with autism spectrum disorder.

Ahlquist’s research explores how his tensile-knit structures, or social sensory architectures, can help children with autism spectrum disorder develop their fine/gross motor control skills, and through that context, facilitate fun and engaging social interactions.

See the summit’s program at autismaction.org/event/summit-2018.