Designing Inclusive Playgrounds And Workplaces For Neurodivergent Communities (Episode 369)

Play shouldn’t require a workaround. We unpack how everyday design choices—like long stretches of mulch, narrow steps, and heat-heavy lighting—quietly exclude many kids and adults, then map out simple, evidence-based changes that open the gate to everyone. From wheelchair-safe surfacing to adaptive swing seats and clear approach paths, we show how inclusion starts well before anyone reaches the slide. Along the way, we get personal about sensory needs and why certain lights raise anxiety not because of brightness alone, but because of the heat they emit, turning a public space into a place you can’t stay.
We also look beyond the park. Inclusive thinking belongs in workplaces and community rooms: adjustable, low-glare lighting, acoustic treatment that lowers noise fatigue, quiet nooks for recovery, and flexible policies that honor different ways of focusing and communicating. When architects, planners, and employers design for the edge cases—mobility, sensory sensitivity, and caregiver logistics—everyone benefits. The chain of access matters: transportation with secure tie-downs, curb cuts that actually align with entrances, and parking that connects to firm, level paths make a world of difference.
This conversation is an invitation to act locally and think systemically. If you’re on a planning board, advocate for poured-in-place rubber or other firm surfacing and adaptive equipment. If you lead a team, build sensory-friendly options into the office and give people choice in how they work. And if you use these spaces, tell us what helps and what still gets in the way. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who cares about accessibility, and leave a review with one barrier you want your community to fix next. Your voice can shape the next playground, the next office, and the next welcome.

Chapter Markers

0:00 Welcome And Gratitude

0:40 Setting The Agenda: Inclusion

0:58 What Inclusive Play Really Means

3:26 The Mulch Problem And Mobility

5:36 Safety And Accessible Swings

9:08 Defining Neurodivergency Practically

13:17 Sensory Sensitivity And Lighting

19:06 Being Different Without Excuses

23:17 Childhood Play And Equal Access

27:01 Barriers, Caregivers, And Comfort

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