Case Study: HAN University of Applied Sciences achieves accessible, neurodiverse-led design and streamlined remote research with MURAL

Giving Agency to the Neurodiverse

HAN University of Applied Sciences used its Design Your Life (DYL) initiative to help autistic people design personalized assistive technologies, but faced challenges presenting a six‑stage design process accessibly, minimizing sensory and environmental distractions, and pivoting to remote sessions. To meet these needs the research team adopted Mural’s digital collaboration platform (MURAL) to deliver simplified, stage‑by‑stage design templates and support remote, low‑tech toolkits for neurodiverse participants.

Using Mural, the team created separate MURAL templates for each design stage, added simple instructions and advance links, integrated physical toolkits, and invited multidisciplinary stakeholders to review findings in shared murals. Mural enabled clearer caregiver–participant interaction, sustained remote research during the pandemic, and streamlined data capture and aggregation; the project reported increased participant focus, faster consolidation of results, and ongoing collaboration with the Mural accessibility team to further improve neurodiverse access.

HAN University of Applied Sciences

Thijs Waardenburg

Doctoral Researcher