Every year, on December 3rd, in observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the United Nations urges the entire world to recognize persons with disabilities. On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the UN estimates that 1.3 billion people experience disability, representing 16% of the world population. 

In this context, architectural design and architects hold a crucial responsibility in ensuring accessibility for disabled people. In the built environment, whether indoors or outdoors, the threshold requires a thoughtful universal design to enhance the user experience for those with disabilities. With much of the infrastructure still not disabled-friendly or inaccessible, these seven inclusive projects in India set an inspiring example to follow.”

1. School for Blind and Visually Impaired Children / SEAlab

The Gandhinagar School for the Blind and Visually Impaired caters to students from Gujarat’s outlying towns and villages, as well as teachers who are committed to providing them with enhanced educational possibilities and social prospects. At first, the school resides in a structure that used to house a primary school. Academic activities take place in classrooms on the first floor, while dorms are located on the ground floor. There used to be less room for all of the students (12 kids sharing a dorm room) and no way to accommodate more.

2. Sai Kirupa Special School / Biome Environmental Solutions

Provides children and young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other learning difficulties customized education and career development. The school envisions a facility that promotes students’ freedom and self-sufficiency and concentrates on their whole progress. The campus’s design creates an atmosphere that fosters growth by reflecting a careful response to the various needs of its users. The project’s comprehension depends significantly on funding from donors because the school operates under a charity trust. Therefore, depending on the funding, the design is to be adaptable to enable incremental, staggered building.

3. M. A. C. Community Center / Made in Earth

The project is an outcome of a collaboration between Made in Earth and Terre des Hommes Core Trust, an NGO that provides homes, education, and potential support to disabled children (abandoned orphans, handicapped, or mistreated) until they reach the age to work. Made in Earth’s design philosophy is very practical and (possibly) non-self-referential, ensuring that it attempts to avoid enforcing any preconceived notions. For example, the materials are chosen based on their actual availability and cost rather than a subjective vision of exotic architecture.

4. Soukhya – Children’s Development Centre

The ethos of Soukhya, coming from the Sanskrit term soukhyam, which means harmonious well-being, is fundamental to the principles of this brand-new children’s development facility in the verdant Goan rural. Opportunities exist in Soukhya, a peaceful sanctuary with a caring way of life. It was designed by Shiraz Jamali and Mammen Paul and is situated on a 55,000-square-foot triangular block of land covered by multiple trees in a vast green neighborhood.

“The trees were a part of the original landscape and the reason for the selection of the plot. It made for a beautiful and natural environment that would otherwise not be possible,” quotes Jamali. In addition to providing a safe environment for learning and development, the center’s mission is to engage children with special needs and promote fun and a sense of community. The center’s design, which revolves around a central courtyard and relies on meticulous movement creates a lively mood that permeates various spaces.

5. Centre for the Deaf-Blind, Goa, India

They adaptively reuse an existing Goan Portuguese house. The old building showed minimal structural damage, but it required restoration of its architectural style and modification for its new purpose as a center for the Deaf-Blind, which Caritas-Goa will operate. There, the differently-abled will receive learning mentorship to help them become self-sufficient. This type of work, involving an older, architecturally significant structure, requires a thorough examination using measured drawings and photographs of the site’s conditions to ensure that the adapted design is appropriate.

6. Sankalp School, Kollapancheri, Chennai

Sankalp, Children with disabilities, such as dyslexia and autism spectrum disorder, can receive extra help at the Learning Centre & Special Needs School in Kollapancheri, Chennai. The goal of the autistic school’s design is to give children a comfortable, perfect environment. By minimizing challenges, this method enables students to completely participate in the learning process with their hands, heart, and head.

The school features a simple layout with courtyards that double as extra classroom space. Courtyards provide daylight and serve as spaces for sensory escape. Verandas act as a buffer between low-stimulus pursuits like music, art, and crafts and high-stimulus ones like classrooms. Since primary colors are visually stimulating, they are avoided; instead, more natural hues are used for various sections.

7. India Autism Center, Sirakol, West Bengal

Making autistic persons believe in themselves is the main objective of this project. Firstly, to support, understand, and reassure those who require assistance and hope. The autistic center has about 7 acres of land in a 54-acre institutional village outside of Kolkata. Additionally, it becomes a resource for learning and support for adults and children with autism.

Through the design approach, they were given a tour of their environment, first by understanding their concerns. Secondly, how vulnerable they are to excessive sensory input, and how they perceive and categorize objects. This program not only aids those in need but also teaches us designers how to be more considerate of the needs of those.

In conclusion, it is essential to emphasize the significance of inclusive design in the backdrop of the popularity of large retail establishments and elegant luxury home interiors on social media platforms. These seven architectural projects, all of which have been designed specifically for people with disabilities. Moreover, it serves as a reminder that our built environment should prioritize careful design and accessibility. 

As we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, it is crucial to recognize how these projects contribute to creating more inclusive spaces. On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, these initiatives stand as an inspiration to how architecture can enhance the lives of individuals. Additionally, ensuring that spaces are not only functional but also empowering!

Research And Curation By: Ar. Baarat Krishna