IRINA VERONA WINS BARNARD'S ADJUNCT FACULTY RESEARCH AWARD

Adjunct Faculty Research Award  (One Awardee) – “The Inclusive Education Classroom: A Spatial History” The Grants committee received an excellent set of proposals across a number of disciplines, from Dance, English, Biological Sciences, Music, Theatre, and Architecture to name a few. The Committee was impressed with the quality and breadth of the proposals and several proposals were highly competitive.

From the Grants Committee “This proposal, centering around the convergence of the psychology of space, equity, and access to educational resources, was ranked highly by virtually all members of the Grants Committee. Her proposal is well-crafted, interdisciplinary in nature, and clearly in line with the College's mission and broad-based commitment to inclusion on all levels of academia."

VERONA CARPENTER PRESENTS ON DESIGNING FOR NEURODIVERSITY AT 'BREAKTHROUGHS' CONFERENCE

Register here! We’ll be presenting some of our work for learning spaces and other projects that create more inclusive places by providing a choice of sensory environments.

We live in a neurodiverse world, but most education spaces are not designed for the neurodiverse population they serve. Learning is inseparable from the environment in which it takes place, and that environment should make learning possible, and joyful, for all students. And so learning spaces must adapt to the learners – not the other way around. 

Though some children with special needs are well supported by specialized schools, legions of students with learning differences– diagnosed and undiagnosed – flounder in spaces that privilege those who can sit still, face forward, and tolerate a bright room. An inhospitable school environment causes mental and physical pain.

We will present examples from our research and practice in designing neuro-inclusive spaces, exploring the boundaries between materials, objects, rooms and programs to allow for movement and choice that lessen the impact sensory sensitivities -- all with the goal of unlocking the generative power of difference.

quad-prep_8751_smaller.jpg