Equity and Inclusion

WED-C06: Beyond Compliance: Designing for Cognitive, Physical, and Neurodiverse Inclusion

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

1:15 PM - 2:30 PM PT

1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW

Speaker(s)

Hana Ishikawa, Affil. ASLA, AIA

Design Principal, Partner
Site Design Group, Ltd.
Chicago, Illinois
Jill Moore (she/her/hers)

Inclusive Play Specialist
Landscape Structures
Golden Valley, Minnesota
Heather Gleason, Certified Park and Recreation Professional (she/her/hers)

Director, Planning and Development
Chicago Park District
Chicago, Illinois

What is a truly inclusive playground? With 15-20% of the population neurodivergent and 16% living with disability, designing for inclusion is essential. Drawing from the Midway Plaisance Accessible Playground case study, this session explores lessons learned in creating spaces that support cognitive and physical access beyond ADA compliance.

Learning Outcomes:

Evaluate strategies for designing beyond ADA guidelines to support a broader definition of accessibility and inclusivity.
Articulate why designing for inclusivity is important for municipal agencies.
Analyze a case study to understand design strategies that broaden accessibility and inclusivity in public playgrounds.
Identify a range of disabilities and neurodivergent experiences that designers should consider in public space design.