(En)Abling Architectural Research: Co‐Designing With People With Intellectual Disabilities

BACKGROUND: People with intellectual disabilities remain under-represented in architectural design and research. This paper draws on a doctoral study that explored how people with intellectual disabilities experience shopping centres. It aims to present an inclusive methodological framework that supports their meaningful participation in architectural research. METHODS: The study followed a Participatory Action Research approach supported by ethnographic methods. Data was generated through interviews, walking interviews, focus groups and co-design workshops and the data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: The analysis identified enabling measures that shaped an inclusive research environment, including collaboration with a self-advocacy organisation, the involvement of a co-researcher with lived experience, the use of prompts and flexible timelines. CONCLUSION: The resulting framework offers practical guidance for researchers seeking to embed inclusive approaches within architectural research and related fields. The article is co-authored by academic researchers and a co-researcher with lived experience of an intellectual disability.