Devlopments in Neuroethics and Bioethics - Chapter 3 Disability studies, neurodivergence and architecture

This chapter outlines some key aspects of disability studies and considers how this strongly emerging field is intersecting with scholarship and activism across many varieties of neurodivergence. It also considers wider intersectionalities to draw out some of the underlying principles of a disability studies approach, and various ethical challenges to everyday negative and ableist attitudes to disability. I then explore connections with architecture—both as a disciplinary practice, and as built space—and offer examples of projects that challenge deficit models of disability and neurodivergence. Finally, I explore projects and processes that aim for a future in which starting from neurodivergence enables alternative ways of thinking and doing architecture, and I outline how neuroscience, architecture and the intersections between then can benefit from disability studies, activism and creativity.