Project is focused on visual disabilities and its objective is to make visual arts classes inclusive; in particluar, it is focused on History of Architecture, because it is a cross- sectorial discipline which is present in almost all the bachelor/master degrees in this field. First objective was to integrate advanced technological solutions, interactive pedagogical methods and innovative didactic tools into HEcourses in History of Architecture. Second objective was to foster innovation in learning and teaching practices, implementing innovative tools were specifically designed to meet the needs of students/users with visual disabilities, but they alsalso able to facilitate and enriche the learning practice of all potential students/users. Third objective was to promote collaboration between HEIs and a broader cross-section of society on the issue of inclusion of VIBpeople. HEIs collaborated with museums and cultural institutions, organizations for the blind, relevant stakeholders and policy makers in the areas of education and inclusion: this collaboration was for the mutual benefit of HEIs & their students, on one side, and for the larger community of stakeholders-, also represented in the project consortium, on the other side.
Accessibility is the core of one of the areas of action of the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and of the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2020-2030. Culture is one of the most crucial contexts in which accessibility is declined, because of its centrality in the growth of both the individual and the society. Nevertheless, the level of education of persons with disabilities continues to be largely lower than the one of persons without disabilities. At present, people with disabilities are only represented on average in 1.1% of the university degree students and the percentage is even lower when talking of master, postgraduate or PhD students. Despite the effort carried out by many European universities, it is still necessary to adopt positive actions to guarantee Higher Education adapted to special needs, for the largest number of people. The In-VisIBLe (Innovative and Inclusive learning tool for Visually Impaired and Blind people) project has addressed to this need for inclusion, promoting access to cultural contents in HE for people with special needs, specifically by using and implementing innovative tools for communication and fruition of cultural contents to be integrated in HE didactic modules.