(En)Abling Architectural Research: Co-Designing With People With Intellectual Disabilities

People with intellectual disabilities remain under-represented in architectural design and research. This paper draws on a doctoral study that explored how people with intellectual disabilities experience shopping centres. It aims to present an inclusive methodological framework that supports their meaningful participation in architectural research.

The study followed a Participatory Action Research approach supported by ethnographic methods. Data was generated through interviews, walking interviews, focus groups and co-design workshops and the data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

The analysis identified enabling measures that shaped an inclusive research environment, including collaboration with a self-advocacy organisation, the involvement of a co-researcher with lived experience, the use of prompts and flexible timelines.

The resulting framework offers practical guidance for researchers seeking to embed inclusive approaches within architectural research and related fields. The article is co-authored by academic researchers and a co-researcher with lived experience of an intellectual disability.