Cultural accessibility of people with Intellectual disabilities: A pilot study in Italy
Catia Giaconi, Noemi Del Bianco, Ilária D’Angelo, Samah Halwany, Simone Aparecida Capellini
Abstract
Self-advocacy process can only be initiated starting from the access to useful information. The process of cultural and social accessibility requires promoting and strengthening the relationship between theories and practices. Macerata University decided to be one of the actors involved in this field, by putting the approaches described in the literature at the service of the people with intellectual disabilities. This study aimed to carry out a pilot study by a multidisciplinary research group of the University of Macerata to increase the level of cultural accessibility of people with intellectual disabilities in the city. The study consisted of 10 master’s degrees students, and 10 adolescents, involving them with ID experts in special pedagogy and Easy-to-Read language. This paper sheds light on the Easy to Read Guidelines, published by Inclusion Europe because it explains precisely how cultural heritage can be made accessible and more understandable by everyone. Keywords: Accessibility; Easy-to-Read; Intellectual disabilities; Social Inclusion.