{"id":884168,"date":"2026-04-27T17:52:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T21:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/?p=884168"},"modified":"2026-04-27T18:10:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T22:10:47","slug":"how-inclusive-design-redefines-parkinsons-care-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/inclusive-design\/how-inclusive-design-redefines-parkinsons-care-community\/","title":{"rendered":"How Inclusive Design Redefines Parkinson’s Care + Community"},"content":{"rendered":"

Baseball legend Kirk Gibson\u2019s defining moment came in 1988: injured and barely able to plant his feet, he stepped to the plate in the World Series and launched a walk\u2011off home run that became an iconic symbol of raw grit. His painful, defiant trip around the bases with fist raised and legs failing cemented his place in baseball lore.<\/p>\n

Years later, that same determination would be tested again. This time, the opponent wasn\u2019t a pitcher on the mound but Parkinson\u2019s disease: a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, speech, and even mood and cognition. The disorder stiffens muscles, slows reaction time, disrupts coordination, and can chip away at confidence and independence. Everyday tasks become harder, and environments that once felt simple can suddenly feel overwhelming, unsafe or inaccessible.<\/p>\n

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\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. Regular exercise helps me manage the severity of my symptoms and helps slow down the progression of the disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the spaces where people with Parkinson\u2019s can move \u2013 and connect \u2013 matter so much. It\u2019s what pushed the legendary slugger to create the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson\u2019s Wellness in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The center is a first\u2011of\u2011its\u2011kind, community\u2011focused wellness facility that offers free, activity\u2011based and educational programs to support people living with Parkinson\u2019s and their care partners. It\u2019s a place where people with similar challenges can come together in ways they may not otherwise be able to.<\/p>\n

To bring that vision to life, the foundation partnered with Steelcase and its local dealer NBS Commercial Interiors. Steelcase brought its inclusive design practice<\/a> to the project, which centers on designing with people rather than for them. This meant closely listening to and considering different lived experiences, understanding barriers, and accounting for the full spectrum of mobility, sensory needs and comfort.<\/p>\n

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The communal table at the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson\u2019s Wellness is intentionally designed to welcome people at every stage of their disability. A mix of seating options supports different heights and postures, offering the right balance of stability and adaptability so everyone can participate comfortably and confidently.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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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. \u201cThis new version of themselves. Creating this community setting where they feel comfortable enough to leave that shell is everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

From the start, the team spent time learning directly from people living with Parkinson\u2019s. The Steelcase Workplace Innovation Design Studio and the Kirk Gibson Foundation held an inclusive design workshop to identify potential barriers and benefits of different furniture settings. The foundation brought employees, care partners, caregivers and people living with the disease together to help envision how the new space should work. Their insights shaped everything from the layout to the furniture choices.<\/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<\/p>\n

The goal was to create a space that supports a wide range of needs, while making the center feel calm, warm and easy to use. A place where people can move freely, feel safe and stay connected to their unique community.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly in the workshop, a participant with Parkinson’s shared that ‘using furniture has become very difficult’ for them,\u201d says Kamara Sudberry, inclusive design leader with Steelcase. \u201cOur ears immediately perked up. These are the experiences we have to be more intentional about.\u201d<\/p>\n

That revelation was just one of many that led to concrete changes.<\/p>\n