ICYMI: Inclusive School Design Has Overlooked a Key User: Educators

Inclusive school design has traditionally focused on creating learning environments that accommodate the varied needs of students. But what about the educators who spend their working lives in those same spaces? In this ICYMI episode of I Hear Design, we revisit an interiors+sources article exploring new research from Corgan and the ASID Foundation that examines how school environments affect educators with disabilities, chronic illnesses, sensory sensitivities, and other conditions. The findings challenge designers to think about accessibility in a broader way—not simply whether someone can use a space, but how much physical and cognitive effort that space requires throughout the day. From storage and circulation to acoustics, flexibility, and restorative spaces, the research offers practical strategies for creating environments that better support educators of all abilities. The lesson extends well beyond schools, too. Truly inclusive design begins by asking who may be missing from the design conversation.