When Steelcase set out to improve their workspace, they did something simple: they asked disabled people what actually works.
Most companies seeking to understand accessibility challenges turn to temporary simulations – having designers navigate spaces in wheelchairs or wear vision-obscuring goggles – exercises reducing the complex lived experience of disability to a brief inconvenience that can be removed at will.
Steelcase, a global office furniture manufacturer and workplace designer, takes a different approach. Their inclusive design philosophy centres on “designing with, not just for” people with disabilities – a principle that runs through everything from individual workspace solutions to major facility partnerships.
Four Pillars of Inclusive Design
The Steelcase approach is built on four clear pillars: Recognise Exclusion by exploring perspectives and barriers of traditionally excluded communities; Include, Listen + Evolve by integrating diverse people into the design process; Create Equitable Experiences that design for individuals while scaling solutions; and Design to Empower + Accommodate by building responsive spaces that provide comfort and control.
Each of these principles translates into innovative workplace solutions where neurodivergent and disabled employees can thrive.
It’s not a particular look—it’s making sure you’re designing so that everyone feels comfortable, and everyone can feel like their needs are supported and that they have a sense of belonging in that space.
Spaces That Actually Work
Steelcase leverages their research and insights to develop targeted environments that address real accessibility needs.
Spaces equipped with ergonomically comfortable furniture, height-adjustable workstations, office pods, and shielded elements offer choices in open offices for people who need to focus or take calls without exposure to distractions. Restorative rooms with sound-scaping technology and controllable lighting for anyone who needs to step away and access more control over their environment, complete with soft-lounge seating and storage for sensory tools like blankets and fidget spinners.
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Meeting rooms designed to improve hybrid meetings can be set up to ensure closed captioning capabilities and assistive tools are readily available. These rooms can provide space for presenters and sign language interpreters. Learning spaces with a range of seating options accommodate different postures and multiple ways to participate. Each space type reflects deep understanding of different accessibility needs rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
The Test Pilot Model in Action
This design philosophy comes to life through partnerships, such as their work with Disability Advocates of Kent County (DAKC). The Test Pilot program brings people with disabilities directly into the Steelcase design process. Over four comprehensive accessibility reviews, Test Pilots like Vicky Schmidt (a high-level paraplegic) have transformed how the company approaches inclusive spaces.
Where am I going to park? How am I going to enter? If I need to leave quickly, what are my options? It’s about the hyper-vigilance required every single day. These are things most people don’t think about, but they shape my entire experience of a space.
The Test Pilots uncovered design flaws that compliance checklists miss – seating arrangements that make people feel trapped, minor slopes that significantly impact mobility.
We don’t want to just meet compliance. We are proud to make progress on our commitment to the Valuable 500, by working alongside our local and global community partners to create workplace communities that are inclusive by design.
Real-World Impact
The Test Pilot approach has proven successful beyond the Steelcase offices. They co-created shared spaces at Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports and Inclusion Centre—a first-of-its-kind facility designed in close collaboration with the people it serves.
This partnership is validating for the Test Pilots who are used to adapting to inaccessible environments. At Steelcase, they found leadership with the growth mindset to acknowledge what they don’t know and actively seek out the people who do.
“You get used to adapting to a world that wasn’t built for you,” Schmidt reflects. “And then you come into a place like Steelcase, where they don’t just listen – they ask for more.”
Global Influence
What amplifies this work is the role of Steelcase as a global workplace solutions provider. Test Pilot insights and inclusive design principles now shape the furniture and environments that thousands of other companies purchase, spreading accessibility improvements far beyond individual projects.
The DAKC Test Pilot program has expanded since 2019, conducting reviews at major venues like Acrisure Amphitheatre and Grand Rapids, Michigan’s new downtown soccer stadium. Peggy Helsel, DAKC’s Development Director, has seen the shift: “Organisations are realising that accessibility isn’t just a compliance issue – it’s a human issue.”
For businesses, this approach delivers measurable value. Instead of guessing what accessibility barriers might exist and retrofitting later, companies can identify real issues early by asking the people who face them daily. This prevents costly mistakes while creating genuinely inclusive environments from the start.
For Valuable 500 companies committed to ending disability exclusion, the comprehensive approach from Steelcase offers a proven framework. Their commitment to “shine a spotlight on designing for disability and inclusion” demonstrates how authentic partnership with disabled people drives innovation across products, spaces, and organisational culture.
Learn more: Steelcase Inclusive Design | Full DAKC Story
