NeuroPlaces Monthly - November 2025
- esearsy
- Nov 26
- 5 min read
Read our second edition of NeuroPlaces Monthly, keeping you in the loop with show updates and industry news. This months highlights include:
- New Exhibitor Spotlight with the National Autistic Society
- Q&A with David O'Coimin, Nook Sensory Pods
- Advisory Board Spotlight with Ana Gorriti, JLL
- NeuroPlaces Visits, The ADC, Google, London.
Founding Show Participants
Show participation is really ramping up! Thank you to everybody who is supporting, partnering, sponsoring and exhibiting at NeuroPlaces 2026. We are so thrilled to have such an eclectic mix of organisations championing this crucial and life-changing initiative.
This is a real snapshot of what NeurPlaces 2026 is shaping up to be. Having only launched last month we already have a wonderful selection of organisations involved including world-leading architects, inclusive designers, major public bodies, sensory friendly product innovators, accessibility consultancies, community and leading charity groups.
We can't wait to share who is joining the neuroinclusive movement next !
Hear from some of our current exhibitors...
New Exhibitor Spotlight with National Autistic Society
"Our presence at NeuroPlaces 2026 offers attendees a unique opportunity to engage with the UK’s leading autism charity and learn how to create truly inclusive environments. By meeting with us, attendees will gain practical insights into improving accessibility and fostering neurodiversity in both public spaces and workplaces.
We will showcase our Autism Friendly Award, a proven quality mark and framework, with supportive training, designed to help public spaces become more accessible and welcoming for autistic people. This award provides clear, actionable standards that demonstrate commitment to inclusion.
In addition, we will highlight our Neuro-Inclusive Employer Award, which supports organisations in building workplaces where neurodivergent employees can thrive. This framework helps employers embed best practices, improve recruitment and retention, and create a culture of belonging."
(Christine Flintoft-Smith, Head of Autism Accreditation and Projects - NAS)
Find NAS at stand 12
Visit NAS and leave with:
Practical strategies for improving accessibility and inclusion.
Knowledge of recognised frameworks that set the benchmark for excellence.
Opportunities to collaborate with the National Autistic Society to achieve these awards and demonstrate leadership in neuro-inclusion.
Building neuroinclusive spaces together, NAS provides evidence-based advice on how environments affect autistic people. Offering training, accreditation and consultancy for organisations, NAS conducts lived-experience research, with advocacy and policy influence etc.
Found out more about Nook Sensory Pods
1. Sum up Nook in three words:
Escape. Relief. Power.
2. What’s one thing you wish every sensory designer know about neuroinclusion?
That not everything needs to be purple or primary colours and that our users can be trusted to adapt our designs for their own needs (sorry thats two!)
3. What makes Nook truly unique?
How they affect our nervous system leading to genuine personal recharge, reset & focus.
4. Tell us your hopes for Nook as an exhibitor at NeuroPlaces?
To introduce Nook to people with genuine interest and mandate who have never heard of us. To show how Nook can have an immediate meaningful positive impact. To learn from much smarter people and to be part of what the future needs to look like.
Founder of NeuroPlaces, Nathan and Founder of Nook Pods, David.
(New friends with a shared mission!)
5. What is your proudest moment so far as Nook Founder and CEO?
There are so many. Seeing Nook supporting actors and neurodivergent visitors in a theatre on Broadway. Sitting with people as their emotions spill out with relief during an installation at a very stressful event. Every time someone tells me that Nook has fundamentally changed their relationship with a place and with their own understanding of themselves.
6. What’s one word that describes what neuroinclusion means to you?
Unleashing.
7. What do you think that neuroinclusive design is so important right now?
We are finally starting to understand that a one-size-fits-all approach, which is a holdover from our industrialisation, is terrible for our minds, and as we start to understand that NEURODIVERSITY IS ALL OF US, we realise that its not about others. It’s about US. Plus the fact that the smartest organisations get that it aids innovation & productivity and reduces turnover and sickness helps a lot!
8. Why would you encourage other inclusive design companies to get involved with NeuroPlaces?
We are finally getting together to bring all voices and ingredients and knowhow in to one symbiotic tornado of change.
Visit Nook at stand 136
Advisory Board Spotlight with Ana Gorriti - Director of Inclusive Design Consulting, JLL
We are bringing together a wonderful team of Advisory Board members, all playing a vital role in shaping NeuroPlaces 2026.
This month, we are getting to know Ana, who couldn’t be more relevant to this role. Ana leads the development and delivery of inclusive built environment solutions across global markets and with 20+ years in workplace strategy and design, she comes with a whole wealth of expertise. With work spanning across 35+ countries and 1.2M sqm of office space, she has built JLL’s Inclusive Design capability from the ground up.
Ana’s architectural foundation combined with strategic consulting expertise enables her to bridge technical precision with big-picture thinking. Ana specialises in creating holistic approaches that foster inclusion in physical environments, developing global design guidelines, and implementing strategies that support neurodiversity and diverse communities across sectors and asset types.
Beyond consulting, Ana actively shapes industry knowledge as a speaker at industry events, while creating workshops and user engagement methodologies that continuously evolve JLL’s inclusive design expertise.
We are so thrilled to have Ana on board!
NeuroPlaces Visits the Accessibility Discovery Centre (ADC) Google, London
The ADC at Google's King's Cross campus is a dedicated hub for research, collaboration and innovation in accessible technology. Launched in December 2022, it was built in consultation with Google Disability Alliance employee resource group and organisations such as RNIB and RNID. It was founded by and is led by Christopher Patnoe, Google's Head of Accessibility and Disability Inclusion.
"Accessibility doesn't stop at the screen... Just as we code accessibility into software, NeuroPlaces is 'coding' inclusion into our buildings and cities, ensuring everyone feels welcome and safe." (Praneeth Reddy, Accessibility Analyst - Google).
Inside Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre (ADC)
From the moment we arrived, it was clear that accessibility and inclusion are woven into the entire ethos of this centre. The room itself has a lovely calming influence as you walk in, it feels relaxed and comfortable.
We were met by Hans Zimmerman and Praneeth Reddy Chada who were kind enough to give us a tour. The centre showcases a wide range of assistive technologies and inclusive design tools, highlighting how thoughtful design can empower people with different physical, sensory, and cognitive needs including neurodiversity. Praneeth comments:
"At the ADC, we focus heavily on 'inclusive innovation'—designing with, not just for, the disability community. Currently, one of our major focus areas is on how AI can support neurodivergent minds by reducing cognitive load. From tools that summarise dense information to features that help filter out distractions, we are building technology that adapts to the user's unique processing style."
Share Your ND Story !
We are collecting personal stories from neurodivergent people, sharing their lived-experiences of public spaces and workplaces. Read our ND Stories here.
We also want to highlight positive neuroinclusive stories/ news from organisations paving the way in this space — we champion all efforts!
Want to share your ND story with us? Send us an email - hello@neuro-places.com
Good News for Neuroinclusion
We love spreading positive news about neuroinclusion, here are a few articles we are cheering on this month!
Exhibitor spaces and sponsorship opportunities are now open for 2026. Visit the NeuroPlaces website to get involved.
Do not miss the opportunity to position your brand at the forefront of neuroinclusive innovation.
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