Design That Celebrates Neurodiversity
Heading out to a crowded school event, we pause by the door, and my daughter looks up at me with her beautiful big brown eyes, “Mama, you have your ear plugs?” she asks, like my co-pilot preparing for take-off.
“Oh! Forgot,” I reply, grabbing my little LOOPS, and attach them to my key ring,
“Earplugs. Check!” I say to her, and we are off!
Early in my life, I didn’t have the words “highly sensitive person”, or “sensory processing sensitivities”, I just knew the world often felt too loud, and I struggled to find a place where I could be myself. So, I did what so many other people do, and learned how to hide my sensitivities.
This is one of the many reasons that when on a trip to Ithaca, New York last week, visiting Cornell University’s Human Ecology building, I was floored when I walked into a beautiful exhibit celebrating neurodiversity.
The exhibit had a sensory cocoon that reminded me of the one HKS built years ago at Lane Tech for students, and tag-less clothes that you can wrap around you like a firm hug, fidget items for comfort, and perhaps my favorite, a hoodie that helps block out sound (pictures below). Each of these items are small things, but they can have a big impact in helping people whose lived experience of the world comes in at a volume that is in great need of tuning.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week, each year in late March, is a great time to remember and celebrate the joy that comes with being different, bringing different perspectives and lived experiences, and for me it stretches me to see the strengths in my sensitivities – the way I can tune into an individual on a podcast interview, or a group of beautiful community members for listening event, or an audience in a packed auditorium.
I had such a wonderful experience at Cornell, and I am so grateful for such amazing collaborators and partners with the Institute for Healthy Futures and at HKS. I look forward to sharing more with you all soon from our Roundtable/Think Tank on the Future of Design for Mental Health!
All the month of March is a great time to celebrate Autism as well! While it is called Autism Acceptance Month, I love the twist that my colleague and friend, Kati Peditto put to it – Autism Celebration Month! Here is to all of my fabulous colleagues, friends, and people in the neurodivergence space helping make the world more inclusive and kind!
How does your built world (office, home, neighborhood, restaurants, parks, and cafes) create spaces that embrace all people? How do you create space to embrace different perspectives and open your mind to different sensory experiences?
In The News:
Watch my TEDx on Design to Heal Loneliness
Celebrating the 2024 AIA Young Architect Award!
Keep your eye out for the Foundation for Social Connection report on the Built Environment that Erin co-led! Goes live May 2nd.
HKS has conversations all this week on ESG in Design, and Erin is moderating a panel in Atlanta, GA, on Building Resilient Minds and Communities!