Rethinking Public Participation: Including Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract Current public participation methods often fail to reach diverse communities, necessitating the development of more inclusive procedures. This research aims to improve municipal planning participation by focusing on citizens with intellectual disabilities, a traditionally underrepresented group. Existing open-source Web GIS platforms are made accessible for this target group, enabling their input into planning processes. By focusing on accessibility for individuals with disabilities, the project also aims to create tools that benefit the broader public, including those with low language proficiency or limited digital experience.