Design an airport for people with disabilities, particularly intellectual disabilities, and you design a positive travel experience for everyone.
About A-UX
A-UX was developed by Karl Traeger, Principal and Aviation Sector Leader at Architectus, one of the largest architecture and design practices in Australasia. At the practice and over a 25-year career in the industry, Karl has been instrumental in the design and delivery of major airport terminal projects across the Asia-Pacific, including in China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and all major cities in Australia.
Karl began formulating the concept behind A-UX in 2018, a year into adopting his son, who has Achondroplasia dwarfism, a genetic condition that slows the growth of bones, leading to an average height of four feet. He had been contemplating what his son’s life might be like, including whether he would be able to travel independently in the future.
With a deep understanding of the stress some people experience at airports and the challenges his son would face navigating complex environments with a disability, Karl decided to put his airport design experience to work on a tool that could help him.
What do we know about disability and diversity
+4 million people in Australia have some form of disability. That’s 1 in 5 people
2.1 million Australian of working age (15 - 64 years) have disability.
35.9% of Australia’s 8.9 million households include a person with disability.
4.4% of people with a disability in Australia use a wheelchair.
Australians who are blind of have low vision will grow to 564,000 by 2030.
1 in 6 Australians are affected by hearing loss.
1 in 88 Children are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
45% of Australian aged 16-85 experience a mental health condition during their lifetime.
3 million Australians live with depression or Anxiety.
1 in 3 people with a disability report that their customer needs are often unmet.
Harnessing the power of games
Playing games with his son and his siblings, Karl started thinking about harnessing the capabilities of the gaming industry.
After he was introduced to virtual reality games for children – environments where his son’s disability was not a factor – Karl was inspired to try creating a VR game or application that would allow his son to explore and better understand stressful places like airports.
The ultimate aim was to help his son build the confidence to access and move through these spaces more comfortably.
Understanding non-visible and intellectual disabilities
Karl expanded his scope for the idea to include people who did not have the same disability as his son. To do that, he needed to understand how cognitive disabilities could elevate someone’s anxiety levels at airports – something airport staff could be trained to understand through A-UX.
Workshops with Autism Spectrum Australia informed the A-UX simulation and revealing the ways someone with autism could be overstimulated in such a stressful environment.
Testing this tool with airport staff confirmed that it increased their empathy and understanding of the challenges people might face in airport facilities. The ultimate aim is to help airport staff more easily recognise non-visible disabilities so they can sensitively support these passengers, which will both improve their travel experience and ensure airline processes are more efficient.
What non-visible disabilities are we designing for?
How will airport staff benefit from A-UX empathy training?
Bringing the vision to life
Drawing on his expertise in aviation architecture, Karl worked with the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, Autism Spectrum Australia, travel psychology researchers, and mental health professionals to successfully bring his A-UX vision to life.
A-UX has evolved to provide a fully immersive simulation of real-world airports where people with disabilities and travel anxiety can learn to successfully navigate these spaces and manage – or overcome – their fear of using airports.
Ultimately, A-UX has the potential to unlock a huge range of benefits, allowing people with a disability to connect with and explore more of the world around them.
What are the motivations of travel?
What are the benefits of travel?
Getting you out of your comfort zone
Open-mindedness: preparing for new experiences
Reinforced self-esteem in the face
of adversity
Improve communication and social skills
External stimuli can increase cognitive functions and improve psychosocial skills
Rewire and exercise your brain through new experiences
Learning and relearning new environments until they become familiar
Makes you happy and lowers risk of depression
Emotional benefits stay with you after travel
Holidays can increase satisfaction with health, job, housework in those with disabilities