Learning is a lifelong experience and, for many, the journey through education leads them to university. Neurodiversity is important in a higher education environment particularly as the surroundings can affect the ways in which learners collaborate, concentrate and ultimately interact. So how do we design for this? There is an increasing awareness and recognition of the need to create inclusive spaces which will enhance the motivation and enjoyment derived from being at university.

Students work and learn in different ways. Neurodivergent students are likely to have a higher sensitivity to their physical environment and have a greater likelihood of experiencing stress and anxiety working in crowded, noisy or open-plan settings. This can affect the ability to focus on a specific task or to think laterally about solutions that might require a team approach. Studying at university is very much a step towards the workplace and, as such, it should provide vital preparation for an individual’s working life.

So how can design ensure inclusivity and the best outcomes for everyone? What does good look like, what barriers currently exist and how can we do it better?

This session will run as an interactive workshop where Helen and Trevor will outline some of the background to the subject and then pose some key questions for delegates to consider. Outcomes and ideas will subsequently be shared with delegates.