Led by the Design Trust for Public Space, Verona Carpenter Architects, WIP Collaborative, and a network of disability advocates, “The Neurodiverse City,” aims to reimagine New York City’s public spaces — streets, playgrounds, plazas, and more — to better support neurodivergent people, including people with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyspraxia, dyslexia, intellectual disabilities, and mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
This fall, the Neurodiverse City is conducting sensory audits and design-imagining workshops at two public space sites with neurodivergent communities to develop public prototypes that showcase more inclusive urban planning practices and support the greatest range of physical and neurological differences.
In new partnership with the NYC Department of Transportation, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Department of Education, the project is working with the Center for Independence of the Disabled-NY, AHRC, INCLUDEnyc, and PS112’s ASD Nest program on outreach to self-advocates, students, and their families. Site audits are taking place at PS 112’s Harlem schoolyard to explore accessible play spaces and youth experience, and at the privately-owned public space Rockrose, 200 Water Street to focus on streetscape access.
Additionally, The Neurodiverse City has launched two online surveys to gather input from neurodivergent populations around public space access in New York City and beyond, available to the general public to contribute a wider range of lived experiences. Learn more and access both here.
Playgrounds for All is a survey designed for families and caregivers to help make playgrounds work better for all children, including children with special education services (IEP), medical accommodations (Section 504 Plan), disability services at school or home, or who identify as neurodivergent
New York City Streets is open to individuals who identify as neurodivergent and live in New York City to survey the enabling and disabling aspects of average streetscapes.
Neurodivergent people are excluded from accessing public spaces due to design oversights regarding cognitive, sensory, and social experiences of the space. Findings from the audits, surveys, and workshops will be used to create assessment tools and design interventions that offer new solutions around policy change around accessibility. Activation of the pilot projects is anticipated this spring.
The Neurodiverse City is supported by Trinity Church and the National Endowment for the Arts.