New research from the University of New South Wales’s City Futures Centre that describes experiences of neurodivergent people in shared urban spaces shows how existing guidelines around inclusive design can be strengthened in practice.
The report by Dr Fatemeh Aminpour, titled “Towards Neuroinclusive Public Open Spaces,” found that everyday public spaces remain difficult for neurodivergent people to use, despite national and international commitments to ensuring equal treatment of people living with a disability.
“Access is still too often framed around physical disability, rather than the sensory, cognitive and social demands that shape how people navigate the city,” Aminpour said.
She noted that “dense inner-city environments, where crowding, noise, competing uses and constant change are part of daily life, remain under-examined … yet these are precisely the places where barriers accumulate most intensely for neurodivergent people.”
In the study, which was funded by a City of Sydney Innovations and Ideas Grant, 15 neurodivergent adults were interviewed during walking sessions across the city’s public spaces – streets, footpaths, parks, plazas and squares – with participants’ experiences of what felt supporting or challenging described in real-time. Following this, a second phase of research surveyed neurodivergent and neurotypical respondents to determine whether the environmental qualities identified resonated more broadly.
The research found that footpaths were a significant challenge for participants, who described them as “contested spaces.”
“Cafe seating, queues, bus and light-rail crowds, bike parking and poorly placed infrastructure frequently reduced clear walking space,” said Aminpour. “Shared zones posed similar challenges with unclear rules about how to navigate them with mixed speeds and fast-moving micromobility, along with sudden bells increasing anxiety. These spaces only worked when pedestrian priority was clear, and speeds were compatible.”
Participants consistently preferred pedestrianised streets and plazas, where the absence of cars reduced noise, visual distraction and perceived risk, allowing people to relax.
“Many participants also adapted their routes, often choosing quieter backstreets over main roads, even when this meant walking further,” said Aminpour.
Natural sounds, greenery and water helped participants’ travel through the city to be more manageable and supported recovery when they felt overwhelmed.
“Importantly, the implications extend beyond neurodivergent communities. Our survey findings suggest that many of the environmental qualities valued by neurodivergent participants – predictability, greenery, quieter routes, clear pedestrian priority – were also appreciated by neurotypical respondents,” Aminpour added.
According to a release from UNSW, the research highlights how existing guidelines can be strengthened.
“Many of the City of Sydney’s current policies already align with what participants valued; the opportunity now lies in applying them more consistently and with greater attention to sensory, cognitive and social dimensions of access,” said Aminpour.
“Designing for neurodiversity strengthens comfort, legibility and usability for everyone.”
The report can be accessed in full online.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
