Great article Shaun! I can recognize some overlaps with supporting neurodiversity in urbanism with how we support temporary, invisible neurological conditions too (e.g. my experience of post-concussion recovery with many neurological challenges which changed how I lived and could experience the city (or not) - light and noise sensitivity were big ones!)
Great to see an uptick in talking about invisible neuro-challenges. As a sufferer of misophonia I'm hyper-aware of the sound burden and seeming complete lack of awareness of noise pollution in our city design in NZ. I don't want to turn this into a whinge about loud cars but....despite there being fairly clear dB limits on vehicles in the law there seems to be a complete disregard for actually enforcing that. My town is completely dominated by the crazy loud cars with modified exhausts that go through every few minutes. There is an increasing body of evidence that the high traffic noise levels are causing serious harm, even to neuro-typical people.
So, just another factor to include - reducing traffic speeds, encouraging alternative modes, and more controls on car use fits really nicely into also helping make cities better - especially for neurodiverse people as well as everyone!
Urban noise is a totally underrated issue. Even for normies who are not aware of its ill-effects on mental and cardiovascular health.
Great article Shaun! I can recognize some overlaps with supporting neurodiversity in urbanism with how we support temporary, invisible neurological conditions too (e.g. my experience of post-concussion recovery with many neurological challenges which changed how I lived and could experience the city (or not) - light and noise sensitivity were big ones!)
Great to see an uptick in talking about invisible neuro-challenges. As a sufferer of misophonia I'm hyper-aware of the sound burden and seeming complete lack of awareness of noise pollution in our city design in NZ. I don't want to turn this into a whinge about loud cars but....despite there being fairly clear dB limits on vehicles in the law there seems to be a complete disregard for actually enforcing that. My town is completely dominated by the crazy loud cars with modified exhausts that go through every few minutes. There is an increasing body of evidence that the high traffic noise levels are causing serious harm, even to neuro-typical people.
So, just another factor to include - reducing traffic speeds, encouraging alternative modes, and more controls on car use fits really nicely into also helping make cities better - especially for neurodiverse people as well as everyone!
Thank you for sharing this! Ours is a very ND family, though only two of my kids have been diagnosed - the rest of us.. manage :)