Designing Inclusive and Accessible School Spaces: Innovative Approaches for Future-Ready, Inclusive Learning Environments
Vilnius Development Company organized a creative architectural workshop for the Mykolas Romeris Gymnasium project, aiming to open the school doors by the 2022-2023 academic year. To achieve this, several development stages were planned to allow the school to conduct educational activities and expand simultaneously. We participated as specialists contributing to this important project.
Donatas Pocesiunas
5/8/20242 min read
The creative workshop team consisted of specialists from various fields: sociologist Agnė Girkontaitė, focused on education research, teacher Justas Paulikas, who is interested in innovative teaching methods, an architect actively working with universal design and accessibility, myself as a universal design specialist, and the 2L architects team, who contributed their experience in creating modern and functional spaces that meet the needs of diverse users.
The goal of these creative workshops was to provide guidelines for creating inclusive and accessible school spaces. The guidelines emphasize the creation of modern, open spaces that encourage communication, collaboration, and interaction among all users, including students, teachers, and parents. It is suggested that these principles be applied not only in new schools but also in existing buildings, where such adaptations may present challenges.
The main goal is to promote inclusion for people with disabilities, address social and cultural inequalities, and encourage mutual respect and collaboration within the school community. The guidelines stress the importance of considering the needs of various users, including children of different age groups, teachers, visitors, and individuals with mobility or sensory challenges. The ultimate aim is to create an environment that is accessible and welcoming to all, fostering engagement and tolerance.
Key recommendations include:
Designing spaces, furniture, and colors that meet the needs of various users, taking into account their mobility, sensory, and cognitive abilities.
Promoting inclusive relationships between teachers, students, and parents, considering both community and individual needs.
Ensuring that even small, often overlooked design details contribute to a school that is welcoming to everyone.
The theoretical recommendations presented during the creative workshops include the following key aspects:
Infrastructure flexibility and adaptability: School spaces should be designed flexibly to meet various educational needs, ensuring long-term functionality and alignment with evolving teaching trends.
Inclusive practices: It is recommended to implement inclusive practices not only in physical spaces but also in the social and pedagogical context. This includes the involvement of diverse groups, such as students with disabilities or children of different ages, in joint activities and decision-making processes.
Sensory and cognitive aspects: Given that schools serve children with diverse abilities, it is crucial to consider their sensory and cognitive needs, such as color choices, lighting adjustments, and acoustic conditions.
Valuing social and cultural diversity: The environment should not only meet physical needs but also encourage social and cultural diversity, ensuring that all students feel valued and accepted.
These guidelines are the result of creative workshops involving architects, sociologists, education specialists, and universal design experts. They emphasize the importance of considering the school environment from the perspective of its diverse users to ensure inclusion and accessibility at every stage of the design process.
https://www.vilniausvystymas.lt/susitikimai-su-bendruomenemis/mru-progimnazijos-kurybines-dirbtuves/