Enhancing accessibility of public recreational services for the neurodivergent individuals in the Baltic Sea Region

Sense BSR

One challenge, many perspectives: learning from the first Sense BSR partner visit

22 September 2026

What happens when people working in local government, education, social services, culture and civil society look at the same challenge from different perspectives? Often, they see different pieces of the same picture. This was at the heart of the first Sense BSR meeting where partners from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania came together not only to exchange knowledge, but also to explore how recreational public services and everyday environments can become more inclusive for neurodivergent people.

Technical details

Looking at services from the user’s perspective

One of the key questions explored during the visit was: how can services be designed so that neurodivergent people can use them more independently? Expert discussions covered different aspects and solutions, from individual support, adaptive communication and understanding each person’s needs to the physical design of services and environments. Such desired services should allow and enable people to participate together, rather than separate them because of their needs.

One practical example came from Bērzupes pamatskola, a school for students with special educational needs. Staff noticed that some students found automatic soap dispensers and hand dryers difficult to use when they encountered them outside the school. The school therefore installed similar equipment so that students could become familiar with it in a safe and familiar environment. Over time, this helped them feel more comfortable and use the technology more independently. This simple initiative showed how small changes in the environment can remove barriers and support greater independence. Similar approaches will be explored further in the Sense BSR project and considered for adaptation by recreational service providers.

Learning beyond the meeting room

The exchange continued beyond formal discussions with visits to local recreational spaces, including Tērvete Nature Park and Dobele Castle, as well as a workshop with behaviour development expert. The activities provided an opportunity to consider inclusion in diverse environments: education, public services, cultural and leisure spaces. Bringing together people who work in these different fields also emphasized the value of looking at inclusion as a shared responsibility. A more accessible society is not created by one organisation or one sector alone. It emerges when different actors understand each other’s perspectives and consider accessibility as part of how services and places are designed from the beginning.

A starting point for the Sense BSR work

The first Sense BSR partner visit strengthened the value of transnational cooperation in bringing new ideas to familiar challenges and adapting ready-made solutions. The Dobele visit was an important starting point for the next stage of the Sense BSR project, helping partners identify key question for the needs analysis with the project’s target groups. The findings will help partners better understand the barriers and expectations of different users and inform the development of more inclusive recreational services.

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