metaphors

Jessica yeh

 

the visitors of my spa are autistic children and their parents and i want the visitors to experience

nature and the excitement of hiking the mountain because autistic children are usually too energenic, so i

want them to use that energy in a positive way in an outdoor activity, therefore they will be more calm

for the experience of the spa.

at the beginning of the hike the visitors will probably feel excited, and maybe even scared

to hike the trail. however, the experience of walking on the trail to the spa is different.

the visitors will feel tired and anxious to get to the spa. and as they draw closer and closer

that they can actually see the spa in the distance, they will feel eager and happy that they are

almost to their destination. finally, when they hiking the last hill to get to the spa they are

feeling relieved to have arrived. they walk up and see a giant concrete wall covered with ceramic and ocean colored glass tiles. they quickly

run up to the tiles and glide their fingers on the cold smooth tiles. as they walk they realize that there is a pathway and looks like a labyrinth.

nervous but still anxious they glide their fingers across the cold tiles until they turn the corner and see a warm orange light in the near distance.

they began to walk quicker towards the light, feeling no longer nervous, more curious. they walk in and the first thing they see is a bright smile

and a warm hello. at ease, they look around and to their left they see soft couches with other children and parents sitting in them. curious again,

they sit down in on one of the couches and begin to feel the suede between their fingers, with their eyes wandering all over the place. there is

nothing to see, but small hallways beyond the desk where the hostess is sitting. a large frosted glass wall and hallways on either side of them.

still curious and anxious they get up and sit back down. another smile and warm hello greets them and leads them into the hallway into a room

with changing rooms and lockers. still feeling curious and anxious they walk to the changing room, everything seems so warm and smooth,

they run their fingers along the wooden doors of the changing room and they go in to get changed into a tshirt and some sweatpants with a bathing

suit underneath. they come out and put their clothes in the locker. they walk out to the hallway and the same person with the warm smile leads

them into a room. the hallways are warm orange colored almost brown like the room outside. the door is opened and it is a small room with a

circular bath in the middle of the room. they are given the option of sitting down on a rug on the ground or to a warm bath in the circular bathtub.

they choose the bath. they go into the bath and sit down in the warm water. their mom or dad is instructed to talk to them and slowly and softly

massage their child's back part of the head. they start feeling calm and more soothed. its like taking a warm bath at home. completely relaxed

after 20 to 30 minutes, they get out the bathtub and dress themselves. next, they are led to another door but this door was labeled sensory room,

the person opened the door and the kid's eyes opened up with excitement. colors swirling the walls. fur, and rubbery materials on the walls,

hanging from the ceiling and fluffy rugs on the floor, they are so happy and excited by all the interesting and fun things that are in the room. they

get into the room and immediately start touching everything they see. cold, squishy, furry, soft, hard, cold, rough, smooth all at the same time.

and they look around and realize that there are other kids around them, just as amazed and excited. they sit on the fuzzy rug side by side and

stare up at the swirling colors on the ceiling and then get up together and start touching the different textures on the walls around them.

time passes by and its time to leave the colorful room, next they are led to a larger room that are divided by soft curtains. they walk in and sit down

on the comfy mats inbetween four walls of curtains, they notice that there are other children there too. they sit in a circle on the mat, and the guide

tells them to shake hands with the people around you and say hi. then they start to massage each other on the shoulders and everyone starts

to feel more at ease.after this group activity, the children are feeling more comfortable and calm, they can either walk back to the changing room to

get changed or they can go to the next room, which is a pool that is alot like the bathtub they were in before, just bigger and with more people.

they decide not to go into the group pool and walk back to the warming lights in the hallway. they walk past a little alcove that has pretty

packaging with colors and toys. as they walk back to the changing room they pass by a room that is labeled the decompression room.

people in the room are sitting down on a mat and drinking tea. they walk past the room and back to the changing rooms. feeling happier

and fufilled as they walk back out to the hallway and out to the waiting area, they see that warm bright smile again but this time a happy

wave goodbye. with a big smile on their face they walk back through the pathway back out into nature and are excited to come back again.

Done