Launched in July 2024, the Erasmus+ iNCLUSION project aims to make heritage sites more accessible and inclusive for everyone, particularly people with disabilities.
The project has begun with a kick-off meeting and a series of interviews designed to identify key obstacles for individuals with disabilities. With over 150 interviews already conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Türkiye, and North Macedonia, the iNCLUSION project explores potential solutions alongside people with disabilities, heritage professionals, special education teachers, experts, trainers, parents, and personal assistants.
Researchers are engaging with professionals from museums, galleries, cultural centres, libraries, archaeological sites, local authorities, and other relevant bodies to assess how well these institutions meet the needs of individuals with hearing and visual impairments, autism, physical and intellectual disabilities, dyslexia, ADHD, and multiple disabilities.
The project examines the broader benefits of cultural institutions, their alignment with ICOM’s newly adopted definition of museums, and key areas for improvement from various perspectives. Participants are asked to share their thoughts on the inclusiveness of their institutions and practices and to explore opportunities for people with disabilities to be involved in planning content and activities at cultural institutions.
The interviews cover various areas for improvement, including physical accessibility of facilities, the quality of accessible information, digital and sensory accessibility, and staff training.
Regarding digital accessibility, participants evaluate whether cultural institutions offer digital access to their collections through guide apps, sign language apps, text-to-speech and speech-to-text tools, audio descriptions, subtitles, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and touchscreen accessibility. They also discuss the role of interactive exhibits and games that accommodate various disabilities, as well as devices providing tactile feedback.
Furthermore, survey participants assess the knowledge and helpfulness of staff in assisting disabled visitors, their awareness of human rights obligations and conventions related to accessibility, and whether institutions offer programmes tailored to their needs.
Through these interviews, the project also explores whether cultural institutions conduct research to understand the needs of different social groups, carry out outreach programmes, and work to reduce stigma by presenting content that dignifies the lives of people with disabilities. It looks at how well institutions reflect societal diversity by employing people with disabilities and including their perspectives.
Finally, the survey highlights the impact of staff attitudes on accessibility, the importance of recognising invisible disabilities, and ways to communicate with non-verbal visitors and those with specific needs.
By gathering these insights, the iNCLUSION project aims to identify and implement practical solutions to make cultural heritage sites more accessible and inclusive for everyone, ensuring that these sites are as welcoming to all visitors as they can be.
iNCLUSION project is funded by the EU.
The European Commission’s support does not constitute an endorsement of the content if this article, which
reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.