2024 Ableist Cities Symposium

This free symposium held on Wedesday 4 December 2024 focused on Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: the role of Innovation in Fuelling an Accessible and Equitable World. In our pursuit of an accessible and equitable world, innovation's role extends beyond mere technological advances. It is a comprehensive process that involves engaging stakeholders from the beginning to ensure that innovation is a collaborative endeavour. At the heart of this process is the Ableist Cities Symposium, which fosters inclusive dialogue. Our focus is on critically assessing and reimagining our urban infrastructure, cultivating conversations and developing tools that deepen our understanding of functional diversity within our built environments. The success of these symposia hinges on the rich exchange of insights from individuals with lived experience of disability, designers, educators, and researchers—all working together to unlock the full potential of our cities. The Ableist Cities Symposium was a collaboration between the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, the Melbourne Disability Institute and the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.