The Neurodivergent Design Checklist provides a quick way to evaluate whether an environment supports neurodivergent people.

It summarizes the principles described in:

• The Neurodivergent Design Framework
• The Neurodivergent Design Specification
• The Neurodivergent Environment Audit

Use this checklist to identify areas where environments may create friction for attention, energy, sensory processing, and participation.

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Attention

Does the environment support sustained focus?

Checklist:

• Interruptions are minimized.
• Deep-focus environments are available.
• Task switching is limited.
• Participants can follow interests or sustained work.

Relevant patterns:

• Monotropism
• Deep Attention
• Context Switching Cost

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Sensory Environment

Does the environment reduce sensory overload?

Checklist:

• Lighting can be adjusted.
• Noise levels are controlled.
• Quiet spaces are available.
• Strong sensory stimuli are limited.

Relevant patterns:

• Sensory Load
• Designing Sensory-Safe Spaces

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Energy Sustainability

Does participation respect energy limits?

Checklist:

• Schedules allow breaks or recovery time.
• Social interaction is not constant.
• Expectations around productivity are flexible.
• Participants can step back without penalty.

Relevant patterns:

• Energy Accounting
• Burnout Threshold
• Energy Recovery

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Participation

Does the environment allow multiple ways of participating?

Checklist:

• Asynchronous communication is supported.
• Written participation is possible.
• Quiet participation is accepted.
• Participants can join and leave activities flexibly.

Relevant patterns:

• Parallel Presence
• Intermittent Collaboration
• Designing Flexible Participation

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Environment Fit

Does the environment support different cognitive styles?

Checklist:

• Spaces support multiple working styles.
• Sensory environments are adjustable.
• Participants can choose how they engage.
• Environments are adaptable over time.

Relevant ideas:

• Environment Fit
• Collaborative Niche Construction

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Interpreting the Results

Use the checklist to estimate how well an environment supports neurodivergent participation.

See:

• The Neurodivergent Design Standards

Typical results include:

ND-1 Friendly

Basic awareness of neurodivergent needs.

ND-2 Supportive

Intentional design for neurodivergent cognition.

ND-3 Native

Environments built from the beginning for cognitive diversity.

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The Goal

The checklist helps shift accessibility from accommodation toward intentional environmental design.

Instead of asking how individuals should adapt to systems, the checklist asks how systems can be redesigned to support diverse minds.

This approach is part of a broader vision explored in:

• Designing a Neurodivergent Civilization
• The Neurodivergent Civilization Atlas
• The Future of Neurodivergent Civilization

Neurodivergent design begins with environments that support attention, energy, and participation.

From there, it becomes possible to design communities and institutions that expect human variation.