As part of its mission to transform urban environments into spaces of belonging and accessibility, InclusiveSpaces recently conducted two focus groups: one in Larnaka, Cyprus (April 4, 2025), and another in Madrid, Spain (April 10, 2025). The aim was to listen, gather feedback, and improve our work by including the people who are most affected by design decisions. These two sessions gave us practical input on both urban accessibility strategies and the InclusiveSpaces digital tool.

Larnaka: Envisioning the Future through Collective Imagination

In Larnaka, the group brought together people with disabilities, local representatives, and teachers to talk about what an accessible city should look like. Using a method called “Mix, Match & Mastermind,” participants chose from six different strategies for improving accessibility—ranging from education and empathy to inclusive infrastructure and adaptive sports.

After choosing a strategy that spoke to them, each participant answered two questions:

• What would happen if this strategy were applied for ten years?
• What would happen if it weren’t?

Their answers were honest and personal. Many spoke about how accessible cities would allow them to move around freely, attend events, and live more independently. Others warned that without change, people would continue to feel excluded and unsafe.

“It’s not just for people with disabilities. It’s for all of us. Tomorrow, it could be us.”

Their reflections were used to generate visual images with AI: one version of a city that had embraced inclusive design, and one that hadn’t. These images helped show, in a simple way, the difference that thoughtful planning can make.

Main points from the session:

• Accessibility means more independence and safety, not just convenience.
• Early awareness about disability and respect is very important.
• Including accessibility from the beginning of a project is better than trying to fix things later.
• Inaccessible environments don’t just affect mobility, they also have an impact people’s emotions, dignity, and social life.

Participants also listed practical things that could make a difference, like improving sidewalks, involving disability experts in construction projects, updating school curricula, and applying for funding to make changes happen.

Madrid: Testing and Refining the InclusiveSpaces Digital Tool 

In Madrid, the focus was on testing the InclusiveSpaces online platform, which is being developed to share practical recommendations for accessible urban planning. Participants included architects, urban designers, and accessibility experts. Before the session, each person reviewed a set of recommendation sheets based on their area of work—like parks, playgrounds, or office spaces.

During the group session, they shared their thoughts on what worked well and what didn’t.

Some of the feedback included:

• The platform’s landing page needs to work better with screen readers.
• The illustrations should be easier to understand, especially for people with visual impairments.
• Some of the terms and checklist items were unclear or too rigid—they should feel more like guidance than rules.
• The section called “Perspectives for Inclusion” could be more readable if redesigned as a sociogram (instead of bubbles).
• Environmental concerns like allergies to trees should also be included in the recommendations.

“Alt text should help explain the image, not just repeat what’s already written.”
“The checklist should guide, not tell people exactly what to do.”

The feedback from Madrid will be used to revise the digital tool. A new version will be shared with participants for a final round of input before it’s published.

What’s Next

Both focus groups made it clear: real inclusion starts by involving the people who live in these spaces and navigate their barriers every day. These sessions didn’t just highlight what needs to change—they showed us how people feel when those changes are, or aren’t, made.

Whether imagining the future in Larnaka or testing tools in Madrid, one message stood out: small design decisions can have a big impact on people’s lives.

We’ll continue working to reflect this input throughout the InclusiveSpaces project. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who shared their time, insights, and lived experience.

To stay up to date with the project, sign up for our newsletter!