Designing for Neurodiversity:
Research shows that members of the neurodivergent community continue to face struggles with disabling workspaces, with the British Council for Offices calling on landlords and occupiers to urgently design more inclusive office spaces.
One in seven individuals in the UK is classed as neurodivergent, yet these individuals’ needs continue to be neglected by businesses.
Those who belong to the neurodiversity community are currently underserved by and often unsupported in the current employment ecosystem. A BCO Research report published earlier this year was undertaken by Centric Lab and PLP Architecture and examines the needs of the neurodiverse workforce.
To this end, the report was divided into four core sections: defining neurodiversity, the link between place and health, identifying the principles of an enabling work environment, and design insights for a work-enabling environment. It brings in research from the worlds of neuroscience, lived experience and design to create a holistic and ecological approach to the creation of enabling work environments. The intention has been to look at how neurodiversity, employment and office spaces intersect to enact health and social justice. Combining the insights of neuroscience and the expertise of design, it sets out new standards and recommendations and is intended as an introduction for those who are building and designing offices.
In ep. 6 of Talking Shop, BCO NextGen London's Oliver Hall sits down with one of the report authors, Araceli Camargo, lead scientist at Centric Lab and a cognitive neuroscientist focused on how people interact with urban environments.
The full BCO research report is available to download from the BCO website: https://www.bco.org.uk/Research/Publications/Designing_for_Neurodiversity.aspx
