Episode 65, Dr. Kati Peditto, PhD, Senior Design Researcher at DLR Group, Design Psychologist | Keynote Speaker | AuDHD | Designing Spaces for Neurodiversity and Mental Health

"There's a great saying among the neurodivergent community. If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism." -Kati Peditto on The Healthcare Interior Design 2.0 Meet Dr. Kati Peditto, an environmental psychologist and Senior Design Researcher at DLR Group who's transforming how we think about neurodivergent design. Featured in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The BBC, Kati brings both professional expertise and personal experience as someone with AuDHD to this vital conversation about creating truly inclusive spaces. Join host Cheryl Janis for an illuminating discussion that will challenge everything you thought you knew about healthcare design. Get ready to discover why designing for neurodivergence goes far beyond quiet rooms and sensory spaces, the surprising ways our environments affect behavior - from ICU alarms to office kitchen smells, and how a 49-day cross-country run shaped her revolutionary approach to healthcare spaces. Whether you're a designer, healthcare professional, or someone passionate about creating more inclusive spaces, this conversation will open your eyes to the profound impact of thoughtful, evidence-based design. Join us for an unforgettable journey into what's new in healthcare design with Dr. Kati Peditto! Want to Learn More? Learn more about Dr. Kati Peditto and DLR by visiting this link: https://www.dlrgroup.com/ Connect with Kati: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katipeditto/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pedittophd/ Ready to have your perspective transformed? In this episode, Cheryl and Kati explore: The eye-opening truth about neurodivergence: Why it's so much more than today's "hot topic" The surprising differences between male and female presentations How neurodivergent minds process environments differently What designers often miss when creating "inclusive" spaces Game-changing design insights: The unexpected reason office kitchen locations matter more than acoustics Why traditional "quiet rooms" aren't enough How hospital alarm systems are failing our healthcare workers The missing pieces in current universal design approaches Personal revelations and powerful experiences: Kati's fascinating journey to discovering her own neurodivergence The life-changing 49-day cross-country run that shaped her research What it's really like navigating the design world as a neurodivergent professional Why some environments exhaust neurodivergent individuals The future of inclusive design: Moving beyond one-size-fits-all solutions Revolutionary approaches to stakeholder engagement Why evidence-based design is crucial for neurodivergent spaces How to create truly adaptable environments Shout Outs 4:03 - Cornell University - PhD in human behavior and design 4:08 - The Washington Post, The Atlantic, BBC 4:12 - Center for Health Design - 2018 new investigator award 4:26 - St. Mary's College of Maryland - 2017 scholarship award 21:39 - Johns Hopkins Hospital - ICU research experience 30:20 - Ulman Cancer Fund (now Ulman Foundation) - cross-country fundraiser 47.42 - DLR Group - current role Industry Partners The world is changing quickly. The Center for Health Design is committed to providing the healthcare design and senior living design industries with the latest research, best practices and innovations. The Center can help you solve today's biggest healthcare challenges and make a difference in care, safety, medical outcomes, and the bottom line. Find out more at healthdesign.org. Additional support for this podcast comes from our industry partners: The American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers The Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design Learn more about how to become a Certified Healthcare Interior Designer® by visiting the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers at: https://aahid.org/. Connect to a community interested in supporting clinician involvement in design and construction of the built environment by visiting The Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design at https://www.nursingihd.com/ FEATURED PRODUCT The prevention of nosocomial infections is of paramount importance. Did you know that bathrooms and showers – particularly in shared spaces – are a veritable breeding ground for pathogen, some of which we see in the form of mold and the build-up of toxic bio films on surfaces. Body fats and soap scums provide a rich food sauce for micro-organisms such as airborne bacteria Serratia Marcescens, which thrive in humid conditions. We know that people with weakened immune systems are so much more vulnerable to the illnesses associated with infection and let's face it, none of us go into the shower with an expectation that we might get sick. So how do we keep those shower walls clean? Well let's think big – BIG TILES. Porcelanosa have developed XXL Hygienic Ceramic Tiles that are 5 feet long - which means just one piece fits the wall of a shower or tub surround....