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Design and technology

These pages collate a range of useful reports and local examples on specific housing design and technology enabled housing for people with a learning disability or autistic people.

You can also find more information on designing purpose-built specialist housing and details about accessible and adaptable housing design and the built environment on our ‘design hub’.

Designing Housing for Neurodiversity: A Thoughtful Approach to Inclusive Living

In this blog, Stephanie Kyle, Senior Architect and Inclusive Design Consultant at Floyd Slaski Architects Ltd, explores neurodiversity and how inclusive design can create environments that accommodate a wide range of neuro-cognitive profiles.

Designing homes for sensory differences: Summit 2024

In May/June 2024, Neurodiverse Connections held a series of 4 online sessions where experts shared good practice in housing design for autistic people and people with sensory needs. They have now compiled a recording of each session.

The Picture This Podcast - Place and Neurodiversity

In this Picture This episode, explore the intersection of neurodiversity and the built environment with Stephanie Kyle, an architect and inclusive design consultant.

Neurodiversity in Planning: Engagement Toolkit

This toolkit by communications agency Cavendish provides seven principles to help facilitate and encourage greater neurodiverse engagement at all stages of the planning process. It is aimed at those engaging with the public and stakeholders, as part of planning and infrastructure development, to make the process, both online and in person, accessible for a neurodiverse audience.

Specification: Supported Housing Accommodation

Written by Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, this document sets out their expectations and requirements for all types of supported housing developments for different people groups.

Home environment design theories and models related to the well-being of people with intellectual disabilities: A scoping review

This study report explores housing challenges for individuals with intellectual disabilities, emphasising limited control and unsuitable living conditions and provides insights that guide the development of better housing options and support systems for enhances occupational performance and well-being.

Trauma Informed Design Within Learning Disabilities Environments

This Trauma Informed Design brief by West Waddy Archadia Studios aims to form a framework for trauma informed design that can be applied to both new build and existing properties through combining the disciplines of psychology and architecture.

Learning Disability Tech Landscape Review

This report is the third instalment in a series of technology reviews. This vital research clearly defines the different types of technology enabling learning disability care provision, maps the sector’s developers and technology providers, and explores the associated functional applications.

Adaptations for children and young people with behaviours that challenge

Foundations, the national body for Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs), has published new guidance for housing adaptations. It calls for a better understanding of the needs of people with autism and/or learning disabilities in housing adaptations and the system-wide cost benefits.

Research on Digital Exclusion since the Covid-19 pandemic 2020

This report by Lewisham Speaking Up (LSU) addresses the experience of digital exclusion during Covid-19 of people with learning disabilities. It conducted research to find out how people with learning disabilities locally are digitally excluded; what barriers they face and what support they need to get online.

Keeping Connected and Staying Well

This Open University research explores the impact of technology on people with learning disabilities during the pandemic.

Sector Pulse Check - The impact of the changes to the social care sector in 2019

This annual Sector Pulse Check by Cebr for Hft provides a yearly snapshot of the financial health of the social care sector.

Design Guidelines for inclusive, enabling environments for adults with complex needs

This viewpoint considers the current standards and typologies of specialist supported housing provision for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Designing for disabled children and children with special educational needs

This publication from the Department of Children, Schools and Families, sets out non-statutory guidance on planning and designing accommodation for new and existing schools in England.

Improving outcomes, enhancing care

This report by the Hft and Tunstall Healthcare looks at the untapped potential of assistive technology and how it can support disabled people, increase independence and free up carers to focus on more meaningful support. It also highlights how assistive technology could help bridge the disability employment gap and get more disabled people into work.

Kent’s Learning Disability Home Design Principles

This design aide by Kent County Council accompanies their accommodation strategy, ‘Better Homes, Better Choice’, to deliver their ambition not to commission any new residential care homes for those with a learning disability.

Supported Living for Adults with Learning Disabilities Service Re-design

This paper covers the key learning points from Warrington Borough Council’s involvement with Just Checking activity monitoring system to assess needs during the night in 16 supported living houses, and is able to remove sleep-ins from 5 houses.

Suffolks’ Supported Housing Design Principles

This paper sets out Suffolk County Council’s supported housing design principles to help implement their Learning Disability Strategy.

Connected Care: Solutions for people with a learning disability

This best practice review from Tunstall makes the case for telecare, assistive technology and telehealth in playing a key role in supporting people with learning disabilities in a way that promotes independence as well as safeguarding them.

Overview of Assistive Technology

This 2012 article in Learning Disability Today provides an overview of how assistive technology can be used for people with learning disabilities.

Enfield Supported Housing Guidance

This guide by Enfield Council, NHS Enfield Community Services and ADASS London provides useful guidance on designing homes for people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour.

Sunderland’s Accommodation with Support Design Guide

This Sunderland City Council design guide is intended for use by everyone involved in the supported housing development process to assist in achieving high quality and sustainable ‘places for living’.

Living in the Community: Housing design for Adults living with Autism

This 2010 RCA and Kingwood Trust study looks at design from a people-centred, socially inclusive perspective, to support people with autism enjoy a full and active life in the community.

What is the HfT Virtual Smart House?

This Virtual Smart House demonstrates virtually some of the technologies that a person with a learning disability may use around their home to improve their independence and increase their safety.

Gadgets, Gizmos and Gaining Indedence: Executive Summary

A 2007 summary report by Advance Housing about how assistive technology can be used for people with learning disabilities.

Design for the mind – Neurodiversity and the built environment – Guide

This document provides guidance on the design of the built environment to include the needs of people who experience sensory or neurological processing differences. It covers buildings and external spaces for public and commercial use, and residential accommodation for independent or supported living.