Case study; Designing an autism-friendly playground at Autism Europe Congress

From the 10th to the 13th of September 2025, our Building 4 Belonging team took part in the 14th Autism Europe International Congress (AEC) in Dublin. This is an annual event hosted by a young, autistic-led organization, bringing together Autistic people, families, academics, and professionals to share advances in research, policy, and practice aimed at improving quality of life for all.

As part of the programme, Charlotte presented our work on designing autism-friendly school environments, including a case study where a playground was co-designed with Autistic children. The presentation highlighted how sensor data can track children’s movements, offering insights into their engagement with different playground features.

Our collaborator Magda Mostafa (professor in Architecture, Egypt) presented how design and architecture guidelines can inform the creation of more inclusive spaces (more on her work here).

A highlight of the session was integration of participatory design and sensory technology, which can give a picture of children’s real-time experiences, but also inform stakeholders and policy makers on how to achieve more inclusive public spaces in the future.