Bright lights, noisy underpasses, or unpredictable crowds can seriously challenge neurodivergent people. Here’s how to create better cities that work for everyone.
Our cities are not designed with neurodiversity in mind. Every day, neurodivergent people quietly navigate urban environments that often exclude them. They plan their routes to avoid bright lights, noisy underpasses, or unpredictable crowds.
They are more vulnerable to uneven walking surfaces, have difficulty regulating body temperature in direct sunlight, and face safety risks from fast-moving bikes on footpaths. They are not a small minority — they make up around 15–20 per cent of the population. In Sydney, that’s roughly one million people.
A legacy of planning systems that have historically prioritised efficiency, density, and aesthetics has resulted in urban design that costs our comfort, accessibility, and sensory wellbeing.
The assumption that one urban experience fits all has left many behind. For neurodivergent people, including those on the autism spectrum, or living with ADHD or sensory processing differences, the city can be unpredictable, overwhelming, and even exclusionary.
It’s time to change that.
A gap in urban policy and practice
In the past decade, governments have made important progress on disability inclusion — from the Australian Disability Strategy (2021–2031) to NSW Disability Inclusion Action Plans. Robust standards such as Australian Standard, Design for access and mobility (2021) and Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (2002) address mobility and physical accessibility. However, there are no equivalent frameworks for sensory accessibility.
When it comes to neurodiversity, urban design policies and planning guidelines remain thin. The lack of evidence-based guidance means that designers, planners, and policymakers are left to rely on assumptions or ad hoc consultation.
Our research at UNSW City Futures Research Centre set out to address that gap. Through walking interviews with neurodivergent participants in the City of Sydney local area, we explored how people experience walking, public transport, sensory environments, and shared urban spaces. The findings provide insight into how sensory, cognitive, and social factors shape accessibility in everyday urban life.
Our study reinforces a key message: the devil is in the details. The surface of footpaths, the type of lighting, the level, type and predictability of sound, the placement of seating, the presence of greenery, and the legibility of signage all play a role in shaping inclusion.
A growing awareness, a need for action
Awareness of neurodiversity is rapidly increasing — in workplaces, education, and media. Yet urban design remains one of the last frontiers.
Encouragingly, the response to this work has been overwhelming. At our recent exhibition “Neurodiverse-friendly Public Open Spaces” at UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture, stakeholders from across sectors shared how it shifted their perspectives.
Some noted the value of aligning neurodiversity with broader health, transport, and sustainability goals, while others described this as the beginning of a paradigm shift — “a foundation to build up from”.
However, awareness alone isn’t enough. We need to embed these insights into policy and practice.
What urban policymakers can do
Here are five practical steps that councils, planners, and designers can take to start making cities more neuroinclusive:
- Embed sensory accessibility into design frameworks
Just as accessibility standards guide the design of ramps, door widths, and tactile paving, we need sensory accessibility guidelines — covering lighting, acoustics, visual clutter, and surface materials, for both indoor and outdoor spaces. In Inner Sydney, for example, Inclusive and Accessible Public Domain Guidelines (2019) are an important starting point, but they should evolve to explicitly address neurodiverse sensory needs. - Consult neurodivergent people early and meaningfully
Inclusion begins with listening. Consultation should go beyond surveys or post-design feedback. In our study, walking interviews allowed neurodivergent users to express how they experienced real spaces — what helps, what hinders, and what enables comfort and participation. - Design for predictability and choice
Legible wayfinding systems, pedestrian areas, and predictable traffic flow help reduce cognitive load and anxiety. Easy access to quiet spaces, shaded retreats and sensory variety allow people to self-regulate. Designing for choice means recognising that no single environment works for everyone, all the time. - Comfort is infrastructure
Amenities like toilets, water fountains, and seating are often treated as afterthoughts, yet they are fundamental to inclusion. Clean, comfortable, and flexible seating, with shade, backrests, and options for different sitting styles, extends how long people can enjoy public space. - Train the next generation of designers
Urban design education should include neurodiversity awareness as a core competency. The next generation of architects and planners need to understand how diversely people feel within spaces based on their neurological differences.
A city that works for neurodivergent people works better for everyone
Designing for neurodiversity is not about creating special zones or separate spaces. It’s about designing cities that flex — spaces that provide variety, predictability, and choice so that everyone can engage on their own terms.
When cities are designed with sensory accessibility in mind, the benefits extend to all. Quiet resting areas help older adults and parents with young children. Clear signage supports tourists and those navigating unfamiliar places. Comfortable seating and accessible toilets make public spaces more welcoming for everyone.
In other words, neuroinclusive design is universal design.
Toward a more inclusive urban future
To create a neurodiverse-friendly city, we must reimagine sensory and cognitive accessibility as a core design principle, not an optional add-on.
With 15–20 per cent of Sydney’s population being neurodivergent, a city that excludes them is not just failing a minority – it’s failing its majority vision of being inclusive, liveable, and fair.
Let’s build cities where no one feels overwhelmed, excluded, or left behind – cities that work for every kind of mind.
Dr Fatemeh Aminpour will be speaking about these issues at the UNSW SDG Showcase on 28 October 2025. The exhibition accompanying this work will reopen at the Hearth, University of Sydney, and will be open to the public from 4-14 Nov 2025.
