The general objective of the project was to draw inspiration from pioneering organisations in order to identify concrete avenues and to assess the impact of architectural and material choices, layout and teaching practices on the quality of life of people with multiple disabilities, and to exchange with organisations that have experience in this area. In concrete terms, the main objectives were to: - discover concrete results; - to understand how partnerships were set up between organisations supporting people with multiple disabilities and architects, equipment suppliers, but also care professionals and institutional partners (municipalities, etc.); - Strengthen synergies with partners in order to engage in in-depth joint reflection on the daily practices of professionals who support people with multiple disabilities and identify how the design of spaces can best support them and contribute to their quality of life at work; - to compare our professional practices and current systems with European experts and other organisations working in the same field as APEMH and to define guidelines for future projects.
The number of users with multiple disabilities has been increasing in recent years at APEMH, which has therefore had to rethink some of its reception areas and support practices. By targeting the quality of life of people with multiple disabilities, APEMH wishes to develop architectural concepts with a therapeutic aim for its users. Multiple disabilities correspond to a very specific life situation, most often characterised by a severe alteration of cognitive functions and expression capacities, major motor disorders, very frequent epilepsy, swallowing disorders, etc. This is a public that is very sensitive to noise, heat and light and that eats in a particular way. Little work exists on the relationship between multiple disabilities, support practices and architecture, even though the links between these three aspects are essential and must be part of the very heart of the concept of a building with a therapeutic aim. For this reason, APEMH wanted to meet organisations and architects who have designed innovative architectural projects and practices centred on the issue of multiple disabilities.