RAISING NEURODIVERSITY AWARENESS IN PUBLIC SPACES

RAISING NEURODIVERSITY AWARENESS IN PUBLIC SPACES

For this module, I decided to campaign on raising awareness of neurodiversity in public spaces, focusing on how difficult it can be for neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with dyslexia, to read and understand public navigation and advertisement signs. Specifically, I explored how wayfinding signs can hinder these individuals from completing everyday tasks.

In developing my approach, I looked at impactful campaigns like the British Dyslexia Association's Awareness Campaign, "Read the Signs" by The Dyslexia Foundation, and Microsoft's Inclusive Design for Dyslexia. These campaigns demonstrated how design and technology can work together to address accessibility challenges. For my presentation slide, I incorporated elements from these campaigns, focusing on creating a sense of confusion and disorientation through chaotic typography. This is meant to evoke the experience that many neurodivergent individuals face daily when trying to navigate spaces.

British Dyslexia Association
The British Dyslexia Association is the voice for the 10% of the population that are dyslexic
The Dyslexia Foundation | The Dyslexia Foundation
Microsoft Inclusive Design
Microsoft Inclusive Design is a practice that anyone who creates and manages products and services can use to build more inclusive experiences for everyone. Get the principles, guidebooks, workshop tools, videos, and many more free resources.

Websites like PSHRA (Public Sector HR Association) emphasise the importance of raising workforce neurodiversity awareness through initiatives such as surveys and campaigns. For example, their survey highlights how government agencies can better understand and address the needs of neurodivergent employees. By identifying gaps in awareness and inclusivity, these efforts aim to create more equitable workplaces. This approach demonstrates the significance of gathering data and engaging directly with stakeholders to shape effective campaigns, which can also inspire public space design to be more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals.

Survey: Government Agencies Need to Raise Workforce Neurodiversity Awareness - PSHRA
Writing about the assets that neurodiverse employees bring to the workplace, Forbes’ Mark C. Perna recently noted that he was “stunned” to learn that 20% of American adults have some form of learning and attention issue. Pointing to U.S. Census Bureau data, that figure equates to roughly 65.6 million members…

Pragati

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