Juncture: The Process of Transition

Abstract

Care for the mentally ill has been a concern since the colonial settlement of the United States. Urbanization forced the government to react to the overwhelming task of caring for the mentally ill. The mentally ill are often defined by their cognitive ability in order to group like needs into a classroom. In our current system we have individuals with cognitive impairments that are overlooked by the system every year. These cases literally fall through the cracks of a system which narrows its focus and financial assistance after secondary education. Individuals with chronic cases, who stand little chance of holding a job, or living without full time assistance are taken in by the state, who meets their needs throughout life. Cognitively impaired individuals that are classified as high functioning are often able to merge within society and overcome their disabilities with little assistance after high school. Unfortunately, large majorities of the cognitively impaired no longer qualify for state programs after secondary education, yet lack vital life training, social, and work skills necessary for independent life. The majority of the mildly cognitively impaired have the capacity to achieve meaningful roles in society, with a few more years of social and occupational training. Based off my research I am led to believe a community based program that operates much like a college for training in life skills, career options, and social interaction is the tool needed for this transformation. My goal is to explore how a facility of this type would manifest itself as an integrated part of its community, encouraging interaction as a means of social training, while also maintaining a sense of privacy that will not overload members. Behavioral therapy see’s the role of environment as one of the key factors to a system’s chances of success. I am also curious how the architectural language used can alleviate some of the environmental stress associated with dealing with a developmental disorder, and support the process of transition from dependency on the system toward independence. The tools for this transformation include: campus-like living conditions that encourage interaction, the teaching of trades based on individual ability, community involvement, and a final goal of integration into the surrounding community. The facility as imagined will have a focus on sustaining itself financially, environmentally, and socially within the community.