Inclusive School Design Has Overlooked a Key User: Educators
Inclusive design in educational environments has increasingly accounted for the varied physical, sensory and cognitive needs of students. But new research from architecture and design firm Corgan, funded by the American Society of Interior Designers Foundation, asks designers to broaden their view: What happens when the adults responsible for teaching, supervising, and supporting those students are not equally considered?
The answer, according to the research, is that routine aspects of the school day can require significantly more physical and cognitive effort for educators with disabilities, chronic illnesses, sensory sensitivities, and other conditions. The findings led the research team to develop an open-source design guidebook intended to help architects, interior designers, administrators, and district leaders translate educator experiences into more inclusive spatial and operational decisions.
