Safe, Vibrant, Healthy Public Spaces (WRI)
This quarter marked a milestone for Aaina’s work on inclusive urban development. The highlight was the city-level knowledge-sharing workshop, “Towards Co-Creating Inclusive and Adolescent-Friendly Cities,” held on May 9, 2025, in collaboration with WRI India. The event showcased learnings from Sensphere—India’s first sensory street—co-created with adolescents, including those with disabilities, on Bhima Bhoi Street.
The workshop brought together government officials, adolescents, urban planners, architects, NGOs, and educators to explore inclusive public space design. Key activities included adolescent-led presentations, sensitization role plays simulating persons with disabilities, and the introduction of the Public Space Assessment Framework (PSAF)—a tool developed with adolescents to assess inclusivity in public spaces.
Adolescents emerged as confident advocates for accessibility. “I never thought my ideas could change how a street looks,” shared one participant. The event reinforced that accessibility is a constitutional right, not a charity gesture, and highlighted that empathy must inform design.
Key Accomplishments::
- PSAF launched as a replicable model for city planning audits.
- Government officials committed to integrating perspectives of adolescents and persons with disabilities (PwDs) in urban planning.
- Strengthened partnerships with State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) and Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Destabiliser (SSEPD) inclusive initiatives.
Upcoming Plans::
- Finalize SOPs for adolescent and PwD participation in urban audits.