Our project is to design and build a safety bed with sensory play for a three year old boy with autism.
The purpose of this project is to design and construct a safe and functional bed for a three-year-old autistic child that meets both the child’s safety needs and the caregiver’s requirements. The child needs a secure sleeping environment that prevents him from leaving the bed without assistance while still providing adequate space and comfort. The design must prevent the child from leaving the bed unsupervised during sleep.
The bed must be constructed from wood to provide a durable and sturdy structure. It must also be designed for easy assembly and disassembly so that it can be transported, installed, or stored when necessary. Storage underneath the bed is required to efficiently utilize the available space and provide convenient storage for the child’s belongings.
Because the child benefits from sensory activities, the design will also incorporate a sensory play board on the exterior of the bed. The board will allow the child to interact with sensory features while outside of the bed but will be positioned so that it does not encourage play when the child is attempting to sleep. The final design must balance safety, durability, functionality, ease of use, and the sensory needs of the child while remaining practical for the caregiver.
We first met with the family to understand the child’s specific needs and identify the requirements for the safety bed. Based on the information gathered during this initial meeting, we researched existing safety-bed designs and considered different approaches for addressing the identified requirements. Using the results of our research and the family’s input, we developed three preliminary design concepts for further evaluation.
Our first concept involves a semi-circular mesh entrance with a fabric surrounding the mesh. The general design of the bed would allow the bed to be slightly recessed into the frame to prevent the bed from moving around inside the enclosure. The busy board would be on the exterior and have the capability to be mounted on either to the footboard or the headboard of the bed.
This safety-bed concept includes a large, rounded-square entrance that provides easy access. The entrance uses a durable zipper so it can be securely closed when the child is inside the bed. A strong, breathable mesh material covers the opening, allowing the child to clearly see the television while maintaining proper airflow and visibility. The rounded corners remove sharp edges and help create a softer, safer appearance. The general design of the bed would allow the bed to be slightly recessed into the frame to prevent the bed from moving around inside the enclosure. The busy board would be on the exterior and have the capability to be mounted on either to the footboard or the headboard of the bed.
Concept three we decided to go with a vertical zipper door with mesh halves to allow further visibility of the room to the child. The general design of the bed would allow the bed to be slightly recessed into the frame to prevent the bed from moving around inside the enclosure. The busy board would be on the exterior and have the capability to be mounted on either to the footboard or the headboard of the bed.
We chose concept design three due to optimal visibility, accessibility, durability, safety and ease of construction.
