The Neurodivergent Environment Audit is a practical tool for evaluating whether a space supports neurodivergent people.
It helps organizations identify where environments create friction for attention, energy, sensory processing, and participation.
The audit builds on the Stimpunks design framework:
- The Neurodivergent Design Framework
- The Neurodivergent Design Specification
- The Neurodivergent Design Standards
Rather than evaluating individuals, the audit focuses on the design of environments and systems.
How the Audit Works
The audit examines several ecological systems that shape neurodivergent experience:
- attention
- sensory environments
- energy sustainability
- participation systems
- environmental fit
These systems interact to form the ecology of neurodivergent life, described in:
When these systems align, neurodivergent people can thrive.
When they conflict, the result is often masking, overload, and burnout.
Attention Audit
Evaluate whether the environment supports sustained focus.
Questions to consider:
- Are participants frequently forced to switch tasks?
- Are interruptions common?
- Do people have access to deep-focus environments?
Relevant patterns include:
Sensory Environment Audit
Evaluate whether the environment minimizes sensory overload.
Questions to consider:
- Are lighting conditions adjustable?
- Are loud or chaotic spaces unavoidable?
- Do people have access to sensory-safe spaces?
Relevant patterns include:
Energy Sustainability Audit
Evaluate whether participation respects energy limits.
Questions to consider:
- Are schedules flexible?
- Do participants have time for recovery?
- Are high-energy social demands constant?
Relevant patterns include:
Participation Audit
Evaluate whether the environment allows multiple ways of participating.
Questions to consider:
- Are participants expected to communicate verbally and immediately?
- Are asynchronous contributions allowed?
- Can people participate without constant social interaction?
Relevant patterns include:
Environment Fit Audit
Evaluate whether environments support diverse cognitive styles.
Questions to consider:
- Do spaces support different working styles?
- Are sensory needs considered in design?
- Are environments adaptable?
Relevant patterns include:
Scoring the Environment
After completing the audit, environments can be evaluated using the Stimpunks design standards.
See:
Possible results include:
ND-1 Friendly
Basic awareness of neurodivergent needs.
ND-2 Supportive
Intentional design supporting attention, energy, and sensory systems.
ND-3 Native
Environments designed from the beginning for cognitive diversity.
Using the Audit
The audit can be used by:
- workplaces
- schools
- libraries
- community spaces
- event organizers
- digital platform designers
It is particularly useful when planning or redesigning environments.
Examples of environments explored on Stimpunks include:
The Goal
The Neurodivergent Environment Audit helps shift the focus of accessibility.
Instead of asking:
How can neurodivergent people adapt to existing systems?
It asks:
How can environments be redesigned to support diverse ways of thinking and sensing?
This shift transforms accessibility from accommodation into a design discipline for cognitive diversity.
