Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-kanak Terencat Akal Johor Bahru (PPKTAJB) is a home for the special needs community. The organisation was established in 1990. Currently, this charity home accommodates 185 beneficiaries with the age range from 10 to 98 years old. It provides permanent shelter, individual care, health well-being and self-management to the beneficiaries with multiple incurable disabilities such as autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, mentally challenged and learning difficulties. 

Through the interview with the manager, Mr Jeeva, we found that the main issue they are facing is the lack of the number of physical therapists to assist the beneficiaries’ activities. Hence, they only manage to spend most of their time indoors and the space they spend most of their time in is lacking in equipment. This condition is insufficient to improve their physical and mental health conditions. To solve this issue, Theraplay 3.0 team hopes to assist them by promoting survival skills as a support to their daily needs and become less dependent on staff’s assistance through improving their motor skills and social skills. Other than that, providing an indoor green corner is another effort applied to encourage the beneficiaries to get closer to nature and enhance their well-being. By looking into their special needs and sensitivities towards their environment, the sensory experiences will also be another main focus in our design consideration. 

In conclusion, we propose designs and activities to enhance the special needs children’s understanding of the world and practice independent life by applying therapeutic approaches hence creating a conducive and healing environment for them. 

Vision and Mission

Vision: This community project aims to propose and implement a sustainable therapeutic landscape through cognitive happiness.  

Mission: 

1. To provide a platform to aid the underprivileged special needs community through engaging the public and in collaboration with the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (Social and Welfare unit) to execute therapeutic landscapes.
2. To spread awareness and foster a spirit of community participation among students and the public to support the special needs of underprivileged communities.
3. To establish a Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) team and sustainable strategy into a collaboration between the university, industry and society.

1. Site visit, Appraisal and Research Phase
   1. Gather the information related to the special needs community to understand their needs, behaviours, difficulties, learning method etc.so that we can integrate them in the design.
   2. Review reference studies.
   3. Site visit to understand the condition of Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-kanak Terencat Akal Johor Bahru and the community’s needs to facilitate our design process.

2. Design Development Phase
   1. Brainstorming design ideas.
   2. Develop a design concept and consult with a supervisor.
   3. Finalise design plan of therapeutic landscape.

3. Recruitment Phase

1. Open registration for other CSR team recruitment to transfer knowledge on providing. 
2. Open registration for volunteer recruitment to encourage more university students in CSR involvement.

4. Construction and Implementation Phase

1. Purchase hardscape and softscape materials.
2. Construction-designed landscape elements.
3. Involve the children in the planting process.

• The beneficiaries will develop basic necessary survival skills to support their personal care and practice independent life.
• The beneficiaries can learn essential communication skills to express their thoughts and improve their social engagement with one another.
• To produce a comfortable and pleasant environment with sensory enhancement to the beneficiaries as a support for their special needs.
• The beneficiaries’ physical health and motor skills can be improved through the interactive activities that encourage movement.
• The beneficiaries will obtain more opportunities to explore and sense natural elements, hence improving their health and well-being.