Building on the previous three years' symposia, FALL2020 Building Community and Rethinking the Built Environment, FALL2021 Immersive Experiences, and FALL2022 PlaceMaking, respectively, our fourth year's symposium focused on Intentional Connections and ways we are all in together to expand the scope of the dialogue with a focus on Shifting Cultures and Education as a Catalyst.
International Neurodiversity & the Built Environment Symposium
Jefferson - East Falls Campus
4201 Henry Avenue
Lawrence Field DEC Center
Philadelphia
,
PA
19144
This annual event is cross-disciplinary and aimed toward critical interactions that address all-inclusive ways of inhabiting and perceiving our environments.
Our event seeks to stimulate international dialogue amongst neurodivergent individuals, communities and advocacy groups, architects, planners, designers, artists, medical field experts, technology companies, educational institutions and everyone interested in the broader framework of access, safety and celebration of the human spectrum.
Event Details
5th International Neurodiversity & the Built Environment Symposium: Interdependence in Action
Thursday, March 27, 6 pm: Opening Reception at The Landing
Friday, March 28, 9 am: Symposium - Thomas Jefferson University - East Falls Campus, Lawrence Field DEC Center (All times are noted in Eastern Standard Time (EST) Hybrid event: The symposium is presented both in-person and online
Marking the fifth year of the International Neurodiversity and the Built Environment series, our theme, “Interdependence in Action,” promotes collaboration, interaction and mutual support while suggesting practical and actionable discussions that address all-inclusive ways of inhabiting and perceiving our environments.
The event is presented by the Synesthetic Research & Design Lab at the College of Architecture & the Built Environment, in collaboration with the Jefferson Health Center for Autism & Neurodiversity, and in partnership with the University College Dublin Inclusive Design Research Centre of Ireland with SMARTlab teams. It is sponsored by the Shrub Oak International School.
We invite all participants to join us for the in-person reception event the evening before the Symposium to meet and cross-pollinate.
The event and symposium are free and open to the public, registration required.
The discussions will build on the previous four years' symposia, "Intentional Connections" in Spring 2024, "PlaceMaking" in Fall 2022, "Immersive Experiences" in Fall 2021, and "Building Community and Rethinking the Built Environment" in Fall 2020, respectively.
Welcome & Introductory Remarks
Organizers
SYNESTHETIC RESEARCH & DESIGN LAB
- Severino Alfonso, Synesthetic Research & Design Laboratory, Assistant Professor, College of Architecture & the Built Environment (CABE), Thomas Jefferson University
- Loukia Tsafoulia, Synesthetic Research & Design Laboratory, Assistant Professor, College of Architecture & the Built Environment (CABE), Thomas Jefferson University
CENTER FOR AUTISM & NEURODIVERSITY
- Wendy Ross, Inaugural Director, Jefferson Center for Autism & Neurodiversity
- Sabra Townsend, Director of Operations, Jefferson Center for Autism & Neurodiversity
Partner
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN INCLUSIVE DESIGN RESEARCH CENTRE OF IRELAND WITH SMARTLAB
Lizbeth Goodman, Professor, Founder and Director of SMARTlab, Founder and Director of the Inclusive Design Research Center of Ireland at University College Dublin
Sponsor
SHRUB OAK INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Lauren Koffler, Head of Admissions, Communications & Client Relations, Shrub Oak International School
Thomas Jefferson University and College of Architecture & the Built Environment Leadership
- Susan Aldridge, President, Thomas Jefferson University
- Edmund deAzevedo Pribitkin, Chief Physician Executive I EVP I Jefferson Health President, Jefferson Medical Group, Professor, Dept. of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College
- Barbara Klinkhammer, Dean and Professor, Thomas Jefferson University, College of Architecture & the Built Environment (CABE), Director SMARTlab at Thomas Jefferson University
Panel 1
Multiscalar & Co-Design Approaches
9:30 – 10:45 am, Eastern Time US
The Ins & Outs: Multiscalar Designs with the Frankfort Community, Philadelphia
- Severino Alfonso, Director, Synesthetic Research & Design Laboratory, Assistant Professor, College of Architecture & the Built Environment (CABE), Thomas Jefferson University
- Kimberly Douglas, Director and Professor, Landscape Architecture Program, Lab for Urban and Social Innovation, Stantec Term Chair, College of Architecture & the Built Environment (CABE), Thomas Jefferson University; Robert Wood Johnson Fellow Interdisciplinary Research Leaders
- Laila Hassan, Landscape Architecture student, Thomas Jefferson University
- Siretta Humphrey, pastor of the Word of Faith Church, Frankford, Philadelphia
Flourishing-based Co-Design as a Mechanism for Impactful Design with/for Neurodiversity and therefore Design for All
- Jenna Mikus, Founder, Eudae Group; Honorary Fellow, University of Melbourne’s Centre for Wellbeing Science; Visiting Fellow, QUT’s Centre for Decent Work & Industry
Centering Co-Design for Inclusion in an Interdisciplinary Design Studio
- Magda Mostafa, Founding Partner and Principal of StudioTM, Professor of Design at the American University in Cairo
- Sarah Rottenberg, Executive Director, Integrated Product Design and Adjunct Associate Professor, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania
Panel 2
Support Frameworks
11:00 am – 12:15 pm, Eastern Time US
The Influence of Environment and High Sensitivity: Navigating Personal and Professional World
- Clara de Castro, Expert in High Sensitivity and Emotional Intelligence; registered Architect and Interior Designer
- Antonio Chacón, President of the Board of Trustees, Spanish High Sensitivity Foundation (Fundespas)
Student-Centered AI: Revolutionizing Therapeutic Tools with a Focus on Individual Needs
- Rinat Hitelman, Co-Founder and Clinical Director, Wide Therapy
- Lauren Koffler, Head of Admissions, Communications, and Client Relations at Shrub Oak International School
Lunch
12:45 – 1:00 pm, Eastern Time US at DEC Center
Panel 3
Building our Practice
1:00 – 2:15 pm, Eastern Time US
Lab Planning for Neuro-Inclusion
- Aria Hill, Architectural Designer, Payette
- Larissa Sattler, Architect (AIA), Payette
- Ellie Thomas, Architectural Designer, Payette
Designing Learning Environments for a Spectrum
- Matthew Heckendorn, President of Heckendorn Shiles Architects
Lessons Learned from Neurodivergent Scientists
- Rachel Updegrove, HERA laboratory planners
Panel 4
Practical Applications of Cross-Disciplinary Work
2:30 – 3:45 pm, Eastern Time US
Take a Seat - The Doctor Will See You Soon
- Elijah Jones, clerk typist, Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging Protective Services
- Rob Mellville, Visiting Assistant Professor, Kanbar College of Design, Engineering & Commerce (DEC), Thomas Jefferson University
- Wendy J. Ross, MD, Inaugural Director, Jefferson Health Center for Autism and Neurodiversity, and Clinical Associate Professor, Behavioral Health
- Lonnie Smith, owner, Autisarian
- Sabra Townsend, Director of Operations, Jefferson Health Center for Autism and Neurodiversity
- Gary Welfer, Program Manager – Specials, MillerKnoll - North America
Thank you to our sponsor
4th International Neurodiversity & the Built Environment Symposium: Intentional Connections
3rd International Neurodiversity & the Built Environment Symposium: PlaceMaking
Building on the previous two years' symposia, FALL2020 Building Community and Rethinking the Built Environment and FALL2021 Immersive Experiences, respectively, we looked to expand the scope of the dialogue with a focus on the notions of belonging, placemaking and sensemaking over a two-part symposium during October 2022 and Spring 2023.
2nd Annual International Neurodiversity & The Built Environment Symposium: Immersive Experiences
Building upon the previous year's symposium, Neurodiversity: Building Community and Rethinking the Built Environment, this year’s dialogue focused on immersive experiences, responsive environments, spatial interactions, and experimental evaluative and physiological measuring tools and criteria. It also included advocacy, spatial and social guidelines, and bottom up and organic initiatives.
Neurodiversity Symposium: Building Community & Rethinking the Built Environment
The event aimed to stimulate dialogue amongst designers, medical field experts and people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their caregivers in regard to the inclusivity of our current environments and with particular focus on designing for neurodiverse individuals and those with ASD.