For decades, Kelly Brenner, a naturalist, photographer, and writer, has found respite from the chaos of city life in the peace and tranquility of nature.
“Living in the city is hard because of the constant sensory overload that leaves me feeling drained all the time,” Brenner writes in her essay “Web of Possibility.” As if being overwhelming weren’t enough, Brenner says city life leaves her “simultaneously feeling bad because nobody else seems to mind as much as I do.” Brenner’s struggle with sensory overload is all too familiar for many people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The comfort and solace she finds in nature speaks to a much broader point: that urban planning often fails to accommodate the millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide who are neurodivergent, i.e., those whose minds function in ways that differ from the general, or neurotypical, population. For the reasons mentioned above, city environments can be unpleasant, confusing, and overwhelming even for people who are neurotypical. Urban planning efforts that prioritize accessibility over aesthetics, sustainability, and accommodation and inclusion for people who are neurodivergent can ultimately bring huge quality-of-life improvements for everyone. As Abdulrahman Alharthi writes in his guide Sensory Zoning for Neuroinclusive Cities, “Development regulations aren’t just about land use; they are powerful levers for social belonging. To build truly inclusive cities, we must reform regulations with neurodiversity in mind.”
The Path to Sustainable and Neuroinclusive Urban Planning
Ableism, or conscious or unconscious bias against people with disabilities, is one of the main culprits behind the lack of accessibility in urban planning for the neurodivergent community. The so-called “medical model” of disability, which forces people with disabilities to adapt to society, rather than accommodating their basic needs, is reflected in cities with a conspicuous lack of wheelchair accessibility and other mobility barriers, along with unclear navigation, noise pollution, and sensory overload. In his essay “How Neurodiversity Can Shape Sustainable Urban Planning”, Abayomi Olusunle notes the research gap on how to make urban planning more neuroinclusive, with most studies focusing primarily on physical disabilities, rather than the needs of people who are neurodivergent. Olusunle adds that wide-scale efforts like the Global Sustainability Movement, which seeks to create ecological balance and long-term economic stability, have largely overlooked the neurodivergent community. Olusunle outlines 6 practical approaches to urban planning that he believes can make cities much more comfortable, accommodating, and sustainable. For starters, there’s inclusive design. This is about more than just the structure and layout of buildings, streets, and public spaces: it means actively including individuals who are neurodivergent in the city planning process, allowing their insight and input into decisions that directly impact their well-being and daily lives.
Whether you’re neurodivergent or neurotypical, most of us have experienced the confusion and chaos of major cities. The most practical solution is implementing clear language and visuals on signage, maps, and guides. Designated peaceful escapes, such as quiet areas in libraries and community centers, or parks with calming water sounds, can also help with relieving anxiety and stress. Olusunle points out that cities that encourage walking and cycling are much more ecologically sustainable, reducing carbon emissions and creating quieter streets and cleaner air. He adds that accessible public transport, such as quieter carriages, designated low-sensory waiting areas, and clear visual timetables, can also have an extremely positive impact. Lastly, he suggests implementing more inclusive mobility options, such as accessible bike paths, and alternative choices like electric scooters, along with walking and cycling infrastructure.
Including Neurodiverse Voices in the Urban Planning Process
In the workplace, neurodivergent professionals bring diverse skillsets, along with exceptional memories, expert attention to detail, passion, creativity, a strong work ethic, and much more. Olusunle believes urban design efforts can greatly benefit from tapping into those strengths. He cites examples like the naturalists Chris Packham and Dara McAnulty, inventor Boyan Slat, hip hop artist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, and many others. In her essay “Designing Cities for Neurodiversity”, Fatemeh Aminpour makes an equally compelling argument for making neurodivergent inclusion and accessibility a top priority in urban planning.
“When cities are designed with sensory accessibility in mind, the benefits extend to all,” she writes. “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.”
As neurodiverse awareness expands in education and employment, Aminpour describes urban design as one of the “last frontiers” in neurodiverse inclusion. Like Olusunle, she has several recommendations for policymakers to shift their approach to urban planning. These include making sensory accessibility a part of design frameworks, covering lighting, acoustics, visual clutter, and surface materials. Aminpour also suggests consulting neurodivergent individuals meaningfully about their experiences of city life, and what would enhance or hinder comfort and participation. On that note, she points out that comfort shouldn’t be just a luxury, but a core aspect that’s strongly connected to infrastructure. “Amenities like toilets, water fountains, and seating are often treated as afterthoughts, yet they are fundamental to inclusion,” she observes. “Clean, comfortable, and flexible seating, with shade, backrests, and options for different sitting styles, extends how long people can enjoy public space.” Lastly, Aminpour drives home the importance of training the next generation of designers about neurodiversity awareness, making it a core competency of their education. Perhaps most importantly, she emphasizes that designing with neurodivergence in mind isn’t about special treatment or creating spaces exclusively for people who are neurodivergent. On the contrary, it’s about accommodating everyone through spaces that feature variety, predictability, and choice. Designing for choice, she writes, means “recognizing that no single environment works for everyone, all the time.” At the same time, incorporating Universal Design, which strives to make public spaces as accessible as possible for everyone, is also extremely important in neuroinclusive urban planning.
Organizations Making a Difference in Neuroinclusive Urban Planning
Thankfully, a growing number of organizations have gotten on board with contributing meaningful, positive changes to urban planning. One of those organizations is the Design Trust for Public Space, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the design and utility of New York City’s parks, plazas, streets, and public buildings. In 2023, Design Trust partnered with WIP Collaborative, Verona Carpenter Architects, and a network of disability advocates to launch the Neurodiverse City, which uses the experience of self-advocates who are neurodivergent to make public spaces more neuroinclusive and to propose meaningful policy changes in urban planning. In October 2025, the Neurodiverse City tested one of WIP’s neuroinclusive design prototypes at a privately-owned public space in NYC’s financial district, creating an “experiential refuge” for New Yorkers who are neurodivergent. According to DesignTrust.org, participants were able to offer feedback about making NYC more accessible, along with testing new design elements and meeting project partners. This project serves as a practical, valuable model for other urban developers to follow in designing public spaces, especially with regard to including the input of individuals who are neurodivergent.
Encouragingly, some organizations have already begun to follow that lead. Neurodiversity Hub, an international initiative and resource platform, brings together architects and designers to promote more neuroinclusive environments in both cities and workplaces. Meanwhile, Urban Design Forum (UDF), a NYC-based organization with over 1,000 civic leaders, is working to create public spaces that are safe and accessible for everyone. As UDF explains on their website, “By foregrounding the values of the neurodiversity movement in neighborhood planning, public spaces can foster greater empathy and dignity for everyone, especially those at the margins.” Along with physical accessibility, UDF focuses on designing for mental health. Some of its proposed strategies include developing a citywide Mental Health in Public Space plan that builds off of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)’s “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City”, and developing new design guidelines and a toolkit outlining how public space design can support inclusivity, fight stigma, and support wellness for city agencies. Building a more substantive body of research is crucial to more inclusive urban planning. UDF points out that NYC currently has a limited amount of local data on how design impacts mental health, and that improved data could help with developing an equity-based approach for design and capital spending for the neighborhoods most in need. They also cite the Urban Mind app, which prompts users to describe their lifestyle and well-being in regards to their built environment. This information can be used for future urban planning and social policy to improve design and health.
If there’s one takeaway from the expert insights, research, and ongoing efforts to improve and overhaul urban planning, it’s that cities don’t have to be overcrowded, overstimulating, or confusing places. Creativity, innovation, and a willingness to not only hear but also incorporate the input of people who are neurodivergent can help build cities that are healthier, more ecologically sustainable, and more liveable. As Judy Singer, the Australian sociologist who first coined the term neurodiversity, stated, “A truly inclusive society designs its spaces with the full range of human minds in mind.” Through an approach to urban planning founded on the social model of disability, rather than the medical model, people who are neurodivergent can experience cities that don’t prompt sensory overload or a fight-or-flight response, and where the peace and serenity of nature are still allowed in.
Sources
Aminpour, F. (2025). Designing Cities for Neurodiversity – Why We Need Inclusive Public Open Spaces. The Fifth Estate, https://thefifthestate.com.au/innovation/design/designing-cities-for-neurodiversity-why-we-need-inclusive-public-open-spaces/.
Brenner, K. (2018). “Web of Possibility.” Web of Possibility, Center for Humans & Nature, https://humansandnature.org/web-of-possibility/
Design Trust for Public Space (2023). “The Neurodiverse City.” Design Trust for Public Space, https://www.designtrust.org/projects/neurodiverse-city/.
Olusunle, A. (2024). “How Neurodiversity Can Shape Sustainable Urban Planning — and Benefit Us All.” World Economic Forum, https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/04/neurodiversity-sustainable-urban-planning/.
Urban Design Forum. Mental Health in Public Space. Urban Design Forum, https://urbandesignforum.org/mental-health-in-public-space
Alharthi, A (2026). ‘‘Sensory Zoning for Neuroinclusive Cities’, American Planning Association, Vol. 43. No. 2
