Neuro Divergent
What does it feel like to have a learning disability or disorder? Neuro Divergent uses experiential graphic design to promote empathy for and awareness of learning disabilities and disorders. It does this through a series of simulations that allow participants to experience what it feels like to have a learning difference and use the unique methods of learning used by people who have learning differences. In each of the four experiences, participants also learn about someone who struggles with a particular learning disability and is successful in their chosen field. Participants thus learn about each disability or disorder and discover neuro divergent gifts.
Below you can watch a video of me walking through the entire experience followed by images with explanations of each part. At the very bottom of the page are a few other projects that were born out of this one.
Walkthrough of the entire experience
Here is an image of the full exhibition. Participants begin at the iPad out front where they learn about the project. Then they select one learning disability and hear a quote of struggle by someone with that learning disability. They then find out who that person is and that they are successful in their field. The interactive screen would end with the discovery of the gift that comes with having that learning disability. Then participants would follow the colored pathway to the simulation of what it feels like to have that learning disability or disorder. That is the part in the middle you can see here. Then they would follow the path to the wall where they would try one learning method commonly used by people with that disability. I surveyed a bunch of people with these learning disabilities and disorders to find out their learning methods and used those as inspiration. This survey also provided invaluable insight that helped shape the simulations.
The title of the exhibition is made of part dimensional and part flat lettering. This furthers the concept that one must look at things differently in order to understand them if they have a learning disability. The full exhibition is in a typeface made for low-vision readers called Atkinson Hyperlegible. Each character is distinct and could also aid those with reading based disorders
Here are a few screens from the interactive monitor that begins the experience. First, there is an animation of broken apart shapes that converge to form the word Neuro Divergent. Then participants learn about the project.
Then they select which learning disability or disorder they would like to learn more about and experience.
Walkthrough of the entire experience
Dyslexia
On these screens participants would learn what Dyslexia is, then hear a story of struggle authored by someone who has Dyslexia. The next screen would reveal who that person is (Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, acclaimed space scientist) and that they are now successful in their chosen field. Participants would then discover the gift (creativity) of having that learning disability or disorder and be prompted to follow the pink pathway to the simulation and learning methods.
The experience for Dyslexia is three acrylic panels with backward text on them. They are on a sliding track and participants must align them to read the text. This is meant to make the participant pause and struggle to read the way those with dyslexia often do.
The learning method for Dyslexia is an image association game. When participants encounter a scrambled word in the paragraph, they must replace it with the correct icon on the right. People with Dyslexia often doodle in the margins of the text to help them understand what they are reading.
I surveyed about forty people to learn about their experiences having learning disabilities. I found that most people believed that they were gifted in other areas as a result of or in conjunction with their learning disability or disorder. For dyslexia, many people mentioned that they were highly creative.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
On these screens participants would learn what ADHD is, then hear a story of struggle authored by someone who has ADHD. The next screen would reveal who that person (Scott Kelly acclaimed Astronaut) is that they are now successful in their chosen field. Participants would then discover the gift (understanding) of having that learning disability or disorder and be prompted to follow the red pathway to the simulation and learning method.
The ADHD simulation is a matching game with audio instructions. Participants won’t be able to complete the game because other sounds overpower the instructions to distract them. This is mean to simulate attention issues. Try it here https://adhdsim.neocities.org/
The ADHD learning method is an out-of-order mind map that needs to be reordered. Each phrase is on Velcro and can be moved around. People with ADHD often create disorganized mind maps of information that they later pull together.
I surveyed about forty people to learn about their experiences having learning disabilities. I found that most people believed that they were gifted in other areas as a result of or in conjunction with their learning disability or disorder. For ADHD many people mention that they were more understanding of others.
Dyspraxia
On these screens participants would learn what Dyspraxia is, then hear a story of struggle authored by someone who has Dyspraxia. The next screen would reveal who that person (Daniel Redecliffe acclaimed Actor) is that they are now successful in their chosen field. Participants would then discover the gift (Imagination) of having that learning disability or disorder and be prompted to follow the orange pathway to the simulation and learning method.
The Dyspraxia simulation asks participants to use their dominant hand to cover their opposite eye. Then they are asked to write their name in cursive by wrapping string around pegs using their non-dominant hand. It is meant to simulate fine motor coordination issues those with Dyspraxia have.
In the Dyspraxia learning method section, participants must feel textured words to read them. They then flip the panels up to see if they were correct. People with dyspraxia often use tactility to trace letters to build up their fine motor coordination skills.
close up of the tactile letters
I surveyed about forty people to learn about their experiences having learning disabilities. I found that most people believed that they were gifted in other areas as a result of or in conjunction with their learning disability or disorder. For Dyspraxia many people mention that they were highly imaginative.
Reading Disorder
On these screens participants would learn what Reading Disorders are, then hear a story of struggle authored by someone who has a Reading Disorder. The next screen would reveal who that person is (Byron Pitts acclaimed Journalist) that they are now successful in their chosen field. Participants would then discover the gift (Perseverance) of having that learning disability or disorder and be prompted to follow the blue pathway to the simulation and learning method.
In the Reading Disorder simulation, the center of some words overlap with similar looking words. Participants must use context clues within the text to figure out which of the overlapping words is correct. People with reading disorders often have difficulty finding the right word especially if they look similar. For example, if a sentence read “The water is really calm” they might read it as “The water is really clam.” Then they would have to figure out what it is actually supposed to be.
The Reading Disorder learning method is a word association game. There are similar words on the outside of the tab. When the tab is flipped up it up it reveals the actual word that belongs in the text.
I surveyed about forty people to learn about their experiences having learning disabilities. I found that most people believed that they were gifted in other areas as a result of or in conjunction with their learning disability or disorder. For reading disorders many people mention that they had a strong sense of perseverance.
Related Projects
