SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Build a Sensory & Accessibility Map
We often experience cities through our own perspective without noticing the barriers others
may face. In this activity, you will reconstruct the journey from the tram stop to the
conference room and redesign it through different accessibility lenses. The final outcome is a
multi-layered accessibility map illustrating how one space can be experienced differently by
different users.
Step 1 – Recall the Journey (3 minutes)
Close your eyes and mentally retrace the route from the tram stop to the conference room.
Think about:
What landmarks do you remember?
What did you hear?
What did you smell?
What textures did you notice?
What helped you find your way?
What obstacles did you encounter?
Step 2 – Create the Sensory Map (7 minutes)
Working together, draw on an A4 a collective map of the route. Include not only physical
elements, but also sensory experiences.
Examples:
Trees and vegetation, Buildings, Sidewalks, Stairs and ramps, Crosswalks, Benches, Lighting,
Street signs, Surface textures (gravel, asphalt, cobblestones), Sounds (traffic, birds,
construction), Smells (coffee shop, flowers, traffic), Busy or quiet areas (Use colours,
symbols, arrows, and sketches to enrich their map.)
Step 3 – Add Accessibility Layers (15 minutes)
Each team member adopts one accessibility perspective and creates an overlay on tracing
paper (papier calque). Each overlay represents improvements that would make the route
more inclusive.
Layer 1 – Navigation Without Sight: A person who is blind or has low vision.
Consider:
●​ How would they navigate independently?
●​ Which features already help?
●​ What barriers exist?
Possible additions: Tactile paving, Audible crossing signals, Handrails, High-contrast signage,
Wayfinding markers, Braille information
Layer 2 – Communication Without Hearing: A person who is deaf or hard of hearing.
Consider:
●​ How is important information communicated?
●​ Where might communication barriers exist?
Possible additions: Visual crossing signals, Digital information displays, Flashing emergency
alerts, Improved directional signage
Layer 3 – Mobility and Physical Access: A wheelchair user or someone with reduced
mobility.
Consider:
●​ Can the route be travelled safely and independently?
●​ Which physical obstacles reduce accessibility?
Possible additions: Ramps, Wider pathways, Lower curbs, Smooth surfaces, Accessible
entrances, Seating and resting points, Automatic doors
Final Reflection (5 minutes)
Place the three tracing-paper layers over the original sensory map.
Reflect on the map generates and the below questions:
●​ Which improvements appear in more than one layer?
●​ Which barriers affect multiple users?
●​ Which changes would benefit everyone, regardless of ability?