Home Designed for
Special Needs

Two North Shore parents sought a solution for the son, a person with developmental disabilities. Tommy was soon leaving an out of state school system as he reached the maximum age for its support. They wanted to find a place for their son to live safely and independently and one that would allow him to grow in his own way. After extensive searching they realized the only way they could ever feel completely comfortable, was if they had it built in Illinois and specifically with their son Tommy in mind. Turley Architects and George Braddock designed, detailed, and constructed a newly purchased private home in to one that is autism-friendly that Tommy and other residents could have as a long-term, stable and reliable home. Beyond the technical needs the home was specifically designed to avoid the common look of institutional facilities and to be a space for all occupants, including family and caregivers, to have a safe and inspiring space. And, it did not disappoint.
Tommy’s parents purchased a 50-year-old, contemporary, single-family 3,185 square-foot ranch home, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, situated on a three-quarters of an acre lot in Deerfield. While suitable for people without any disabilities, the home was not suitable for person’s with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

“Ever since our son was young and in a residential setting for his autism, we dreamt that he would have his own group home and it would have an enriching environment where he could live safely and comfortably. And, you know what? Chris Turley helped us achieve that dream.”

Adults with ASD often have difficulty processing even moderate levels of light, noise, color, smells and textures without experiencing sensory overload and distress. For example, many see colors with greater intensity than neural-typical peers. Sounds associated with heating systems, domestic appliances, and ventilation fans can also cause distress. That distress manifests into intense emotional or physical reactions, that are behaviorally inappropriate at the very least and can become physically violent at its worse.
Because Tommy had a variety of behavioral problems, we used architecture to reduce potential triggers as opposed to forcing Tommy to contort his life to the home’s limitations. Optimal design helps avoid later problems that may necessitate a subsequent move. We gutted everything down to the studs in many areas and created a floor plan that helped ensure safety, convenience and independence.
Everything was built to minimize unnecessary sensory stimulation. There were rigorous decisions about glare, patterns, shadows, and light control. We doubled-up drywall to reduce sound and installed room-darkening curtains to protect against light sensitivity. We built-in safety systems and construction to protect residents and staff and many other systems to reduce wear and tear on the building that often accompanies intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals. We also created a quiet room to let Tommy and other residents decompress, as well as a place for staff to retreat to if they ever felt unsafe.
The most amazing part is that after we were all done the house looked like a suburban home, which is exactly what we wanted – to fit in to the neighborhood inside and out. We wanted it to be warm and inviting, not institutional.

“Tommy loves this home and it’s changed his life,” says Tommy’s mother.

Home Designed for Special Needs

Two North Shore parents sought a solution for the son, a person with developmental disabilities. Tommy was soon leaving an out of state school system as he reached the maximum age for its support. They wanted to find a place for their son to live safely and independently and one that would allow him to grow in his own way. After extensive searching they realized the only way they could ever feel completely comfortable, was if they had it built in Illinois and specifically with their son Tommy in mind. Turley Architects and George Braddock designed, detailed, and constructed a newly purchased private home in to one that is autism-friendly that Tommy and other residents could have as a long-term, stable and reliable home. Beyond the technical needs the home was specifically designed to avoid the common look of institutional facilities and to be a space for all occupants, including family and caregivers, to have a safe and inspiring space. And, it did not disappoint.
Tommy’s parents purchased a 50-year-old, contemporary, single-family 3,185 square-foot ranch home, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, situated on a three-quarters of an acre lot in Deerfield. While suitable for people without any disabilities, the home was not suitable for person’s with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

“Ever since our son was young and in a residential setting for his autism, we dreamt that he would have his own group home and it would have an enriching environment where he could live safely and comfortably. And, you know what? Chris Turley helped us achieve that dream.”

Adults with ASD often have difficulty processing even moderate levels of light, noise, color, smells and textures without experiencing sensory overload and distress. For example, many see colors with greater intensity than neural-typical peers. Sounds associated with heating systems, domestic appliances, and ventilation fans can also cause distress. That distress manifests into intense emotional or physical reactions, that are behaviorally inappropriate at the very least and can become physically violent at its worse.
Because Tommy had a variety of behavioral problems, we used architecture to reduce potential triggers as opposed to forcing Tommy to contort his life to the home’s limitations. Optimal design helps avoid later problems that may necessitate a subsequent move. We gutted everything down to the studs in many areas and created a floor plan that helped ensure safety, convenience and independence.
Everything was built to minimize unnecessary sensory stimulation. There were rigorous decisions about glare, patterns, shadows, and light control. We doubled-up drywall to reduce sound and installed room-darkening curtains to protect against light sensitivity. We built-in safety systems and construction to protect residents and staff and many other systems to reduce wear and tear on the building that often accompanies intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals. We also created a quiet room to let Tommy and other residents decompress, as well as a place for staff to retreat to if they ever felt unsafe.
The most amazing part is that after we were all done the house looked like a suburban home, which is exactly what we wanted – to fit in to the neighborhood inside and out. We wanted it to be warm and inviting, not institutional.

“Tommy loves this home and it’s changed his life,” says Tommy’s mother.