A project led by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and involving Barcelona City Council, the Global Institute of Neurodevelopment Integrated Care (IGAIN) and LEMUR urban emergency laboratory goals to enhance public spaces in cities to learn neurodivergent children – minority groups of kids with neurological differences, and youngsters with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) particularly. The initiative, called ASD-BCNeuroinclusiva: activating spaces with neurodivergent group and funded by the European Union’s Latest European Bauhaus program, goals to supply solutions to create more inclusive spaces for this group.

Despite the progress that has been made on this area in recent times, children with autism still face difficulties in using and having fun with urban public spaces. The dearth of more inclusive spaces implies that their risk of social exclusion is more acute, and that these children may miss out on the chance to play outside. Various studies have shown the multiple sensory motor, emotional and social advantages of contact with nature amongst children with ASD, because it reduces their anxiety levels and enhances their sensory skills.”

Blanca Calvo, principal researcher of the project, member of the Urban Transformation and Global Change Laboratory (TURBA) on the UOC’s Web Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3)

The project explores revolutionary design strategies that link inclusive play with nature and aesthetics, and it’s going to provide urban planning professionals with methods and tools for designing sustainable play areas for and with the community of individuals with autistic spectrum disorder. “On the Gran Clariana park in Barcelona’s Plaça Glòries, BCNeuroinclusive will likely be developing a performative co-creation methodology that gives an experience of space involving experiments with the body, play and other creative ways of exploring multi-sensoriality and connectivity with space through aesthetic appreciation,” said the researcher.

The project uses an interdisciplinary approach with the intention to achieve its goals, which incorporates urban planning and design, social sciences, education, health and the humanities. The aim is to reimagine and transform play areas in cities with the intention to provide design guidelines that may be implemented in some other city or country in Europe based on the experience in Barcelona.

This latest UOC project, which began in July, will come to an end in December 2022, and the outcomes will likely be announced at two presentations in January 2023. The initiative was presented as a part of the European Commission’s call entitled Co-creation of public space through citizen engagement of the EIT Latest European Bauhaus Community – a campaign that falls throughout the objectives of the European Green Deal approved in 2020.

Project partners

The principal partner within the project is the Urban Transformation and Global Change Laboratory (TURBA) on the UOC’s Web Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3), a laboratory with extensive experience in coordinating European co-creation projects. These include PERFORM, COOLSCHOOLS, T-Factor and EPSN.

Barcelona City Council is participating within the project through its Ecology, Urban Planning, Infrastructures, and Mobility Office, working with the Municipal Institute for Individuals with Disabilities (IMPD) and the Institute of Childhood and Adolescence.

One other partner is the Global Institute of Neurodevelopment Integrated Care (IGAIN), a number one Spanish center within the diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. It provides training for ASD professionals and accreditation for ASD diagnostic instruments in America and Europe, in addition to evidence-based treatment for individuals with ASD throughout their lives.

Finally, one other partner within the project is LEMUR urban emergency laboratory, a global interdisciplinary association that creates community spaces for well-being and fosters ecological and social transitions through educational and research initiatives, integrating architecture and environmental engineering. Examples of its projects include Arrels (Roots), El cos de la casa (The Body of the House), De l’escola al mercat (From School to Market) and La pell de la ciutat a Glòries (The Skin of the City in Glòries).

This UOC research supports Sustainable Development Goals: 10 Reduced Inequalities and 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities.

ASD-BCNeuroinclusiva: activating spaces with neurodivergent group is an EIT Community Latest European Bauhaus project supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

Source:

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)