Urban accessibility is associated with architectural barriers and often ends there. But what about people for whom the biggest problem is over-stimulation?
Being away from home is somewhat akin to a survival strategy, and just getting out comes with a mass of activities. Are you sure it will all work out? The first obstacles are not so great, some of which you have become accustomed to. The worst are the surprises along the route and what will wait behind the wall, on the spot. The date with the smallest queue was specially chosen, but what if, however, something changed? For many people this will be hyperbole, they will say that I am exaggerating again. It's something wrong with me, so I prefer to sit quietly and not complain. I was taught that I have to manage somehow.
Despite constant development and the growing role of technology, cities are still difficult to navigate. Excessive stimuli, unpredictable situations and rigid and illogical frameworks are not encouraging. Public spaces are stressful due to the amount of stimuli. Therefore, such places are avoided and participation is limited. Using the city on an equal basis is not a given.
Digital tools can partially alleviate these difficulties. Cities are increasingly relying on technology to make residents' daily lives easier. Apps that help with navigation or show sensory-friendly places allow people to better plan where and when to go. The problem, however, is that many solutions don't change the city itself, but instead shift responsibility to the user. Instead of improving the quality of spaces, they mainly point out places to avoid.
neurodiversity and access to public space
In the experience of neurodiverse people, that is, people whose way of processing information, receiving stimuli and communicating deviates from the dominant norms, it is apparent that the city is downright hostile. Theoretically, we know that neurodiversity assumes that neurological differences are not a deficiency or disorder, but a natural part of human diversity. Yet the city for many is demanding. Excessive stimuli, such as noise, light and smells, can lead to sensory overload, stress and physical discomfort.
Poignantly, it is in public spaces, especially in government buildings, that the intensity of these stimuli can sometimes be so difficult and hard to predict that they are downright repulsive places. The need to process a lot of information at once effectively makes it difficult to concentrate and make decisions, and this in a place that precisely requires decision-making.
Offices as spaces of stress and unpredictability
A visit to the office. At the very thought, most of us sigh deeply. The experience lies somewhere on the circle of hell next to the train station in Poznan. And if it's difficult for the neurotypical, what are those whose stimulus detection system is even more heightened to say? Fact, on the one hand, these places are highly formalized, with clearly defined procedures, but on the other hand, everyone knows that chaos often reigns. The unpredictability of waiting times, unclear instructions or the need to respond to voice announcements in an already noisy environment cause tension and confusion. The problem is not even the waiting itself, but the lack of knowledge of how long it will take and what exactly should be done in the next steps.
Being able to check information online, prepare for an appointment or schedule a specific time significantly increases the sense of control and predictability. For many people, this is a way to reduce time spent in a stressful environment. Access to clear instructions and structured content allows people to better understand procedures and avoid mistakes. Digitization of administration can directly affect the well-being of users.
However, this does not mean that digital solutions are free of problems. Many systems still assume a certain way of communicating and processing information that suits neurotypical people. Complex language, ambiguous forms or lack of feedback can lead to serious consequences. And the burden of adaptation still falls mainly on the users. Neurotypicals use a variety of strategies: preparing carefully for an appointment or using noise-canceling headphones to cope with a demanding environment is the norm. Assistive technologies help, but they don't solve the underlying problem, which is the mismatch between spaces and services to accommodate diverse needs.
How to design a sensory-friendly office
Speaking only of architecture, we can say that a friendly office is therefore a place that first of all reduces excess stimuli and introduces predictability. This means quieter, orderly interiors where noise, intense light and smells are reduced to a minimum. This would be useful for all of us. It would be good, arranging these places as they instilled in us during our first semesters of study - you need to clearly separate functional zones and clearly organize the layout of the space. Later, this allows you to intuitively know where to go. A well-designed space should not force you to constantly react to unpredictable situations, or to filter excess information.
The way of communication is also of great importance. So love wayfinding, but also simple language in forms and instructions, devoid of jargon. Forms and instructions must be designed to leave no room for interpretation. In the age of the digital revolution, it would also be good to be able to do at least some things online, to be able to book an appointment or learn about a procedure. The condition, however, is the high quality and security of these tools. The digital system must not be an additional barrier.
The most important change, however, is to move away from thinking that it is the user who must adapt. An office designed with neurodiversity in mind assumes different ways of receiving information and functioning in space. This means flexibility, the ability to choose the form of contact, and taking into account the experience of the users themselves in the design process.
Instead of treating cognitive differences as a deviation from the norm, they should be taken into account as one of the many ways users function. This is a condition for full participation in society, a right to the city.
