Integrating Human-Centric Care and Accessibility: Designing Inclusive Residential Spaces for Special Children in Economically Underdeveloped Regions of China

Modern society's diverse development has made design products more accessible, improving living conditions for vulnerable groups, including special children. Despite the global emphasis on supporting these families, specialized residential spaces for special children remain limited. This research aims to fill this gap by exploring interior designs tailored to their needs, integrating humanised care and barrier-free concepts. The study reviews national and global design research, analysing interdisciplinary fields such as special education and environmental psychology. On-site investigations in Lanzhou, China, combined with data from 400 questionnaires and interviews with families, inform the design strategies. The proposed ‘Accommodating Adaptable and Intimate Design’(AAI) applies six key design principles, aiming to improve family life quality and aid the recovery of special children. While acknowledging limitations, the study calls for further exploration of spatial design strategies and emphasizes the importance of societal, economic, and technological support for fostering inclusivity and equality for special children.