![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_500,w_500\/v1777301667\/26-0271690-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPeople need help fighting the effects every single day,\u201d Gibson says. \u201cSince my Parkinson\u2019s diagnosis, it has become clear that exercise and movement are critical to my overall treatment.<\/p>\n That belief inspired the creation of the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson\u2019s Wellness in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The first of its kind, community focused facility offers free activity based and educational programs for people living with Parkinson\u2019s and their care partners. To bring the vision to life, the foundation partnered with Steelcase and its inclusive design practice \u2014 designing with people rather than for them.<\/p>\n From the start, the team listened to those living with Parkinson\u2019s, hosting a workshop with them, their caregivers and center employees. Their lived experiences guided every decision, influencing layout and furniture to meet a wide range of mobility, sensory and comfort needs.<\/p>\n .<\/span><\/p>\n .<\/span><\/p>\n Kirk\u2019s son, Cam Gibson, who helps run the center, explains that Parkinson\u2019s often brings new anxiety. People worry others will notice their tremors, posture, or speech. \u201cPeople can come here and just be themselves,\u201d Cam says. \u201cCreating this community setting where they feel comfortable enough to leave that shell is everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Kirk Gibson Foundation CEO & Managing Director Steve Annear, an amputee, says he entered the process skeptical. \u201cI wasn\u2019t sold on the idea that we needed to do the inclusive design workshop, but it changed everything,\u201d says Annear.<\/p>\n .<\/span><\/p>\n .<\/span><\/p>\n I wasn\u2019t sold on the idea that we needed to do the inclusive design workshop, but it changed everything.<\/p>Steve AnnearKirk Gibson Foundation CEO & Managing Director<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n \u201cIt has to be an interactive space. It has to be able to adapt to the people who are utilizing it,\u201d adds Cam Gibson. \u201cTeam members with Parkinson\u2019s tested furniture and layouts early in the process to make sure they would be helpful in everyday use.\u201d<\/p>\n For Brenda Lanker, director of community outreach, who has Parkinson\u2019s, inclusive seating is paramount to those with the disorder.<\/p>\n \u201cParkinson\u2019s affects everyone differently, but at our center, that spectrum is our strength. Just as there is an activity for everyone, there is \u2013 quite literally \u2013 a seat for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n .<\/span><\/p>\n .<\/span><\/p>\n The resulting design of the Kirk Gibson Parkinson\u2019s Center is grounded in four simple ideas that make the space more supportive of people at every stage of their Parkinson\u2019s journey.<\/p>\n 1. A predictable environment<\/strong><\/p>\n Clear landmarks, accessible amenities and unobstructed pathways make the center intuitive to navigate and reduce cognitive load.<\/p>\n 2. Support for every stage of the Parkinson\u2019s journey<\/strong><\/p>\n Stable seating, armrests, higher seating options and adjustable support a range of physical needs while allowing the space to adapt as activities change.<\/p>\n 3. Designing for wellbeing through materials<\/strong><\/p>\n Soft textures, neutral colors, biophilic cues and sound absorbing materials create a calming environment that supports sensory comfort.<\/p>\n 4. Creating micro\u2011environments for connection and privacy<\/strong><\/p>\n Smaller zones provide places to gather, rest or step away for quieter moments.<\/p>\n Building a place centered on community<\/strong><\/p>\n The emotional impact is just as powerful as the physical accommodations. A man diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s five years ago had kept it quiet. He didn\u2019t want anyone to see his symptoms. \u201cBut his perspective completely flipped after coming here,\u201d Cam says. \u201cBeing able to come to a setting where it\u2019s a community of people going through the same thing made all the difference for him.\u201d<\/p>\n .<\/span><\/p>\n .<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cInclusive design isn\u2019t limited to one community \u2013 it\u2019s a mindset that applies to every workplace,\u201d says Kamara Sudberry, inclusive design leader in Steelcase. \u201cThe lessons from our work with the Kirk Gibson Foundation help us ensure design can be an aide, not a barrier, for people of all generations, abilities and neurodivergent conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n Steelcase and its research teams continue to work with the Kirk Gibson Center to understand how people use the space and make adjustments over time, ensuring the environment evolves to meet the needs of the Parkinson\u2019s community.<\/p>\n The result is a space shaped by the people who use it, honoring their resilience and reflecting the spirit of Kirk Gibson, a champion now helping others find their own grit and determination to overcome Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n .<\/span><\/p>\n At a Glance<\/strong><\/p>\n Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n Location<\/strong><\/p>\n Industry<\/strong><\/p>\n Size<\/strong><\/p>\n Design Intent<\/strong><\/p>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Project Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n Inclusive design helps people with Parkinson\u2019s thrive through movement, connection, and a supportive community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37261,"featured_media":171690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"topic":[17705,672],"class_list":["post-171688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-inclusive-design","topic-wellbeing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1777302301\/26-0273184.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1777302355\/26-0271444.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1777302475\/26-0273181.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1777302543\/26-0273173.jpg\")
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n