Spaces also communicate.
And when they are not designed for all ways of perceiving the world, they exclude.
Waiting rooms. Libraries. Schools. Community centers. Public offices.
Spaces that many people pass through daily…
but not everyone can inhabit them with the same tranquility.
For many neurodivergent individuals, these environments are noisy, confusing, hostile, or unpredictable.
And you know what? It doesn't have to be this way.
In this article, we share a simple guide to start adapting any public space with a more accessible, sensory-conscious, and respectful approach to diverse bodies and minds.
Why adapt public spaces?
Because not everyone perceives the environment in the same way.
And when this environment does not take difference into account… it turns it into an obstacle.
🧠 A autistic person may feel anxiety with fluorescent lights or unexpected noises.
🧠 A person with ADHD may become dysregulated in a room without stimuli or movement.
🧠 A person with hypersensitivity may feel dizzy from an air freshener or the echo of an empty room.
Or simply… stop going to that space because they cannot sustain it.
The problem is not the body.
It is the environment that does not consider it.
Authentic accessibility begins before entering.
— ATIPICOS.org
Practical list for adapting public spaces
Here is a list of elements to consider when reviewing and improving the sensory accessibility of your public space:
ACCESS AND SIGNAGE
- ❒ Is the entrance visible and easy to identify?
- ❒ Are there clear signs, with pictograms or easy-to-read text?
- ❒ Are the signs well-placed, at eye level?
- ❒ Can one access without passing through intense stimuli (music, lights, strong scents)?
LIGHTING AND SOUND
- ❒ Are the lights dimmable or warm in temperature?
- ❒ Is there natural light available or areas with lower intensity?
- ❒ Is the use of fluorescent or flickering lights avoided?
- ❒ Does the space have good acoustics or reduce echo?
- ❒ Are there unnecessary or constant ambient noises (music, speakers, buzzing)?
FURNITURE AND LAYOUT
- ❒ Are there quiet seating areas, without being surrounded by stimuli?
- ❒ Are seating options offered with backrests and without physical contact with others?
- ❒ Does the layout allow for movement without crowding or friction?
- ❒ Are there areas that invite movement or regulation (quiet corners, mats, soft chairs)?
WAITING AND TRANSITION SPACES
- ❒ Is the waiting time visible and predictable (with clock, sign, or visual turn)?
- ❒ Can long queues be avoided?
- ❒ Is there an alternative space to wait calmly if someone needs it?
- ❒ Is there flexibility to adapt to regulatory needs (use of headphones, moving around, using support objects)?
COMMUNICATION AND ATTITUDE OF STAFF
- ❒ Is the language used clear, direct, and free of unnecessary technicalities?
- ❒ Is the use of alternative communication (visual, gestural, written) allowed or encouraged?
- ❒ Is the staff aware of neurofunctional diversity?
- ❒ Is difference accepted without judging or correcting behaviors that do not affect anyone?
Adapting is caring
And you don't need to be an architect, occupational therapist, or neuroscientist to start making changes.
You need to look at the environment with different eyes, listen to other experiences, and above all… have the will to include, not just to invite.
An adapted space not only benefits neurodivergent individuals.
It is often kinder, more predictable, and healthier for everyone.
“Adapting to others is not a concession. It is an act of respect.”
— Temple Grandin
Do you want to keep receiving content like this?
At ATIPICOS.org we are working on resources and training on sensory design, neuroarchitecture, and truly supportive environments.
If you are interested in transforming your space, your center, or your team, we would love for you to write to us.
Because there is no coexistence without accessibility.
And there is no accessibility if there is no listening.
“The body needs space to not defend itself all the time.”
— Manu Gayete
Veronica Martín Pons
Co-Founder of ATIPICOS.org
Director of A-Tipic Biointeriors