Overview
The need for this project stems from the diverse, empirically documented barriers that limit the equal participation of people with disabilities in Switzerland.
A particular shortcoming lies in the invisibility of many barriers. While physical barriers are relatively easy to identify, sensory overload, microaggressions, and cognitive demands often go unnoticed. Studies show that neurodivergent people, in particular, are systematically excluded by unpredictable auditory and visual stimuli or a lack of spaces to retreat to (MacLennan et al., 2023; Trezzini et al., 2021). Psychosocial barriers – such as the questioning of invisible disabilities or the reduction of affected individuals to their limitations – also have a profound impact on social participation. Public space is thus characterized not only by physical obstacles but also by invisible mechanisms of exclusion, which have so far been scarcely addressed systematically in Swiss disability policy.
The project aims to develop a novel, integrated approach: from low-threshold data collection through participatory co-design scenarios to a “living report” that continuously updates itself and is broadly accessible.
