Designing for everyone: can the principles of dementia-friendly design inform design for neurodiversity in health-care settings?

Abstract

Purpose There is increasing interest in the UK in developing environments that support people who are neurodiverse. This paper aims to report on a project to develop a cognitively supportive environmental assessment tool to improve the design of health centres, where the majority of National Health Service consultations take place, for all users, including people living with dementia and those who are neurodiverse. Design/methodology/approach A three-stage process was used: a literature review; the development of a matrix of key design features for people living with dementia, autism and other neurodiverse conditions; and the development of an environmental assessment tool and guide for users, which included easy-to-read versions to maximise service user involvement. Findings The overarching concepts of dementia-friendly design can be adapted to create designs for everyone, including those who are neurodiverse. Research limitations/implications There is a paucity of research in environmental design for primary care from the patient’s perspective, and, more generally, further research on design for adults with learning disabilities and autism is needed. Practical implications The tools are free to download. With adaptation, they have potential applicability across health and care settings. Originality/value This project has confirmed that the principles of dementia-friendly design are applicable, with modifications, to a wider group of neurodiverse people. Critically, each person’s response to sensory stimuli is individual rather than determined by their condition.