Creating Inclusive Cities: Embracing Deaf Urbanism in Urban Design
From sensory reach to acoustics, we look at the key design features that make environments more accessible and enriching for everyone.
July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate diversity and advocate for more inclusive spaces for people with disabilities. As a Deaf person, for example, I navigate the world differently from hearing individuals. These personal experiences have profoundly influenced my practice as a Deaf urban planner, compelling me to design environments that consider diverse sensory experiences.
Our built environment was primarily made by and for hearing people, and while compliance with ADA guidelines is a significant step forward, true accessibility often requires going beyond the legal minimum. Thankfully, in the past two decades, there's been increasing interest in research focused on "invisible" disabilities, that is, disabilities that are not immediately apparent. One such area of research is Deaf Urbanism.
What is Deaf Urbanism?
Deaf Urbanism, also known as DeafSpace, Cities for the Deaf or deaf design, is the idea that cities can and should be designed around people who use spaces differently. The concept emerged from the broader movements for disability rights and universal design, which gained momentum in the late 20th century, and goes beyond traditional urban planning by considering the unique needs and preferences of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Deaf/HoH) community. Historically, urban environments were designed with little consideration for the unique needs of Deaf and HoH communities. The passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 marked a significant milestone, laying the groundwork for accessible design in public spaces. It wasn't until the early 21st century, however, that the concept of Deaf Urbanism began to take shape, influenced by increased advocacy from Deaf communities and progressive urban planners who recognized the importance of creating environments tailored to the visual and communicative needs of deaf individuals.
Deaf Urbanism principles have been increasingly incorporated into the design of public buildings and spaces, enhancing visual accessibility and social interaction. Libraries, museums and community centers are now often designed with open layouts, transparent materials and visual alerts to ensure clear sightlines and promote visual communication. Parks and recreational areas are also being reimagined with these principles in mind, featuring visual signage and clear pathways to facilitate navigation and safety for deaf individuals. Public transit options have started incorporating live signage into their trains, trams and buses, giving visual cues for passengers to know where they are and what stop(s) are coming next. Educational institutions, particularly those with significant deaf populations, are adopting classroom designs that enhance visual communication through interactive whiteboards, captioning services and ample natural lighting. These practical applications demonstrate the versatility and impact of Deaf Urbanism in creating inclusive spaces across various aspects of urban life.
The Principles of Deaf Urbanism
A pivotal moment in the development of Deaf Urbanism was the establishment of the DeafSpace Project by Gallaudet University, the world's only liberal arts university for deaf and HoH students. This initiative provided a formal set of guidelines that addressed key aspects of spatial design, such as acoustics, light and color, mobility and proximity, sensory reach, and space and proximity. These principles, designed to create environments that cater to the unique needs of deaf and HoH individuals, play a crucial role in developing spaces that are inclusive, functional and welcoming for Deaf communities. Let's explore each more closely.
Acoustics
While deaf individuals primarily rely on visual cues, managing the acoustic environment is still important, especially for those who use residual hearing or hearing aids. Not everyone in the Deaf community has 100% hearing loss (for instance, I fall somewhere between moderate and severe hearing loss). Noise pollution can significantly impact a person's ability to listen to and contribute to conversations. Taking measures to mitigate and minimize unnecessary sounds can help deaf or HoH people engage with others without interference from background noise. Designing spaces with materials that absorb sound and reduce echo helps create a more comfortable auditory environment. For indoor spaces, these materials can include carpets, acoustic panels and soft furnishings to dampen noise. In outdoor environments, natural elements such as trees, shrubs and hedges can act as sound barriers, reducing the impact of traffic noise, construction sounds, and other forms of urban noise pollution. Urban planners can also incorporate design elements such as sound-reflecting walls or surfaces to direct and control sound pathways, ensuring that auditory information reaches its intended destination without causing confusion or overlap.
Light and Color
Proper lighting and the use of color are vital in creating environments that are visually accessible and comfortable for deaf individuals. In both indoor and outdoor spaces, adequate lighting, particularly natural light, enhances visibility and makes it easier for people who rely on sign language or lip reading to communicate. Pathways, parks and public squares should be well-lit – with streetlights and outdoor fixtures providing even, diffuse lighting to minimize shadows and glare – to ensure that deaf and HoH individuals can navigate safely and communicate effectively after dark. Similarly, using color to differentiate areas and provide visual cues can aid in orientation and wayfinding, making outdoor spaces more navigable and user-friendly. Color can also be used to highlight important features such as information kiosks, seating areas and pathways. For example, brightly colored benches or signage can stand out against the natural environment, making them easily identifiable. Conversely, solid-colored or monochromatic backgrounds in interior meeting spaces can help people focus on a speaker, their words and their body language; when there's a busy background, however, whether that's a bright pattern or the motion from a window, it makes it difficult to stay as engaged in the conversation as the speaker deserves.
Mobility and Proximity
This principle emphasizes the design of spaces that support ease of movement and accessibility for deaf individuals. Wide corridors and open spaces facilitate physical movement and allow for clear visual communication, reducing the likelihood of collisions or misunderstandings. Mobility-friendly designs also consider the placement of furniture, fixtures and seating to avoid creating visual barriers and ensure pathways are unobstructed. The layout of public spaces such as parks, plazas and sidewalks should offer wide, smooth pathways that are free from obstructions such as overly dense landscaping or poorly placed street furniture. Additionally, incorporating ramps and leveled surfaces in outdoor spaces not only aids physical movement but also ensures that everyone can maintain eye contact and engage in seamless communication without physical barriers.
Sensory Reach
Sensory reach refers to an environment’s ability to convey critical information through visual or tactile means. Deaf individuals experience their surroundings differently than hearing people, relying on sight and touch to navigate spaces and receive notifications. Ensuring broad visual access to the environment helps deaf people feel safer and more connected to their surroundings. Incorporating visual alerts, such as flashing lights for alarms or video screens for announcements, ensures that critical information is accessible. Visual signals, such as pedestrian crossing lights with flashing indicators, large, clear signage for public information, and tactical elements, like textured flooring and surfaces, can indicate pathways or signal changes in the environment, enhancing navigation and safety. For instance, tactile paving on sidewalks can also guide individuals with visual impairments, providing dual benefits.
Space and Proximity
This principle focuses on arranging spaces to facilitate easy and effective visual communication. For deaf individuals, clear sightlines are essential for visual interaction, whether through sign language or lip-reading. For example, when using sign language to communicate, deaf people often stand further apart than hearing people when conversing verbally and prefer to be on the same level as one another (both people are standing or seated). This "signing space" is essential for sign language users and lip readers to ensure they can stay engaged in the conversation. Circular or semi-circular seating arrangements in indoor areas, public parks or community spaces, versus long, thin tables or traditional theater-style seating, better support group discussions and social interaction because they allow for everyone at the table to see people's faces clearly from the front, rather than from the side or, worse, the backs of people's heads.
Since their creation, these guidelines have been integrated into various public and private projects, setting a new standard for deaf-friendly design. The growing recognition of deaf culture and the importance of visual communication in urban settings has helped further propel the movement, leading to its recognition as a distinct discipline within urban planning and design.
Broader Implications for Urban Planning
The principles of Deaf Urbanism extend beyond the Deaf/HoH community. By designing spaces that accommodate a variety of sensory and physical needs, urban planners and designers can create environments that are more inclusive and beneficial for everyone. Features such as reduced noise pollution, better lighting and thoughtful spatial arrangements improve the quality of life for all urban residents, not just those with specific disabilities. As we continue to see the benefits of these thoughtful design approaches in public and private buildings, educational institutions and recreational areas, it's clear that considering the diverse sensory needs of all individuals enhances the urban experience for everyone.
That being said, collaboration with Deaf communities ensures that their voices are heard and their needs are met, leading to spaces that are not only accessible but also enriching. Technology plays a crucial role in this advancement, with innovations in visual and tactile communication tools further bridging the gap between different sensory experiences. The true measure of success, however, lies in the active participation and empowerment of those directly affected by these designs.
As we look to the future, we must ask ourselves: How can we continue improving our urban environments? How can we leverage new technologies to enhance accessibility further? What policies need to be enacted to support more inclusive urban planning? Most importantly, how can we ensure that the voices of all community members, especially those with invisible disabilities, are included in the design process? By pondering these questions, we can strive towards a more inclusive and equitable urban future, where every individual, regardless of their sensory abilities, can navigate and enjoy the world around them with ease and dignity. In short, when we build in a way that is more accessible for some, it benefits us all.
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Further reading and references:
Aboubeid, S. (2019). Inclusive design of urban spaces: Deaf and blind Urbanism through spatial and multi-sensory design. University of Nottingham.
Dangermond Keane Architecture. (2020). DeafSpace. Gallaudet University.
Gulliver, M. S. (2009). Deaf space, a history: The production of Deaf spaces emergent, autonomous, located, and disabled in 18th and 19th century France. University of Bristol.
Khorshid, R. (2021). Cities of the Deaf. Spatial Sound Institute.
Maiwald, S. (2018). Why we all need Deaf Urbanism. Greater Greater Washington.