Abstract

The “Inclusive Museums: Addressing Neurodivergence in Cultural Spaces” initiative aimed to foster inclusive cultural spaces by integrating neurodiversity into space design education and by raising awareness of cultural institutions. This small-scale pilot initiative was developed in collaboration with a design and applied arts school, a cultural institution, special education counselors, and a biomedical start-up specializing in neurodevelopmental diagnostics. The project introduces a multidisciplinary and participatory model for inclusive museum design. It engages design students and cultural actors through immersive workshops, collaborative design sprints, and public-facing events, including virtual reality (VR) experiences simulating sensory and cognitive challenges. The initiative also supports professional development and dialogue within cultural institutions, encouraging long-term reflection on accessibility, spatial justice, and the cultural mediation of neurodiversity. This article presents the methodology, challenges, and preliminary outcomes of the initiative, arguing that inclusive design education—when coupled with lived experience and institutional engagement—can serve as a catalyst for structural change in the museum sector.