A.A.C.cessible Culture: museums for everyone developing the Alternative Augmentative Communication tools Erasmus Project

Project Title

A.A.C.cessible Culture: museums for everyone developing the Alternative Augmentative Communication tools

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Partnerships for Creativity

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Disabilities – special needs; Access for disadvantaged

Project Summary

The project “AACcessible Culture: museums for everyone developing the Alternative Augmentative Communication tools” [AACC] deals with a theme so far scarcely explored in Europe: the fruition of the artistic and cultural heritage by children and young people with communication deficits due to intellectual disabilities and/or with learning difficulties, including recently immigrated children. In the EU, in the absence of exact data, by adding up the most important types, it is possible to estimate several million children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), including: SLD (Specific Learning Disorders), language and skills deficits non-verbal, deficits in motor coordination, deficits in attention and hyperactivity, and minors under 15 of non-EU origin with little knowledge of the host language.
In museums projects related to overcoming architectural barriers and the creation of paths dedicated to people with physical disabilities, facilitating their access to the museum, have already been active for years (e.g. tactile paths, soft areas, openings at dedicated times). Even so, little has been done to allow people with communication deficits to understand the content and encourage active participation. The school has already introduced the strategies of Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC), which allow the use of a potentially universal language by overcoming linguistic, verbal and written barriers. AACC aims to support the learning pathways of minors with SEN by introducing AAC models and tools in the cultural sector.
The main innovation of the project is in the objective of building a dedicated AAC model to finally allow to these children the use of cultural and artistic heritage, favoring their development and autonomy, enhancing the emotional, relational and cultural dimensions thanks to art. In this pursuing we can define three fundamental results: 1) The creation of original codes and communication tools in AAC, 2) The creation of digitalized real and virtual cultural paths, for use even at a distance; 3) The creation of an innovative skills profile for the cultural sector: a facilitator of the participation of people with SEN, capable of designing adapted fruition paths and interacting with the world of schools or associations.
In 24 months, the project involves the collaboration of 7 partners from 6 European countries where the use of AAC is still not widespread (Italy, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain); each with different and complementary skills to achieve the objectives of AACC, including universities, publishing houses, schools of various degrees, cultural centers and social enterprises; to which is added a network of associated public and third sector partners. It is estimated that 40 cultural operators, 60 teachers and educators, 600 minors with SEN plus at least another 600 peers and families will participate in research, training and experimentation activities with schools.
AACC plans to achieve 3 Intellectual Outputs (IO) in 3 phases: A first phase of research for understanding the use and potential of the AAC model in order to create a European model applicable to cultural education (IO1). In the second, it plans to test the Model identified in experimental paths, also remotely, involving cultural operators and schools, validating the AAC tools created and defining the framework of the skills and procedures required of the educational system (IO2). The third phase allows to structure its applicability in cultural systems: definition of guidelines for museums and cultural institutions (IO3). 7 training courses for partner staff and 8 multiplier events and 4 transnational meetings will facilitate the implementation of AACC.
At its conclusion it will be possible to spread AAC models for the cultural sector, potentially transferable to other sectors of education for categories with fewer opportunities. The training modules will be accessible, even in e-learning mode, from any organization that requests it. A new branch of professional skills will also be developed for cultural operators and it will be possible to enhance the results achieved, activating the transfer and adaptation to other regions or countries, through the reference networks of each partner, schools, cultural organizations, or associations to support disadvantaged recipients.
The new standards will thus make it possible to expand the inclusive dimension of cultural organizations, demonstrating that culture is open to all, without foreclosure.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 292201 Eur

Project Coordinator

Solidarietà e Lavoro Società Cooperativa Sociale O.N.L.U.S. & Country: IT

Project Partners

• DOMSPAIN SLU
• APEL – Associação Promotora do Ensino Livre
• Szczecinska Szkola Wyzsza Collegium Balticum
• uovonero edizioni snc di Enza Crivelli & C.
• COMPLEXUL MUZEAL NATIONAL MOLDOVA IASI
• Platon m.e.p.e.