SenseAble Culture
What is SenseAble Culture?
SenseAble Culture is an EU-funded project dedicated to empowering Persons with Sensory Disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully in cultural life. We work primarily in rural and underserved areas of Italy, Latvia, Romania, and Spain to help cultural institutions adopt Universal Design and accessibility principles. Our goal is to transform museums, theatres, art galleries, and libraries into inclusive environments by training professionals and creating practical educational tools.
Who we aim to help
We divide our efforts into two main groups to ensure a systemic impact:
The Challenge
Currently, many cultural institutions face significant barriers to real inclusion:
Insufficient Resources
In Europe, 80% of museum funding is concentrated in just 20% of institutions, leaving rural and small centres with minimal support.
Digital Barriers
Many cultural websites do not comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), excluding those who use assistive technologies.
Lack of Awareness
There is a critical need for training in Human-Centred Design, as negative attitudes or a lack of knowledge often hinder inclusive practices.
Understanding Sensory Disability
Sensory processing is how the brain interprets information received from the senses. A sensory disability occurs when there are difficulties in this process, which can include:
Visual Impairment
Total blindness, low vision, colour blindness, or photophobia (sensitivity to light).
Auditory Impairment
Deafness, partial hearing loss, or hyperacusis (extreme sensitivity to everyday sounds).
Processing Differences
Hyper-sensitivity (over-reacting to stimuli like noise or lights) or hypo-sensitivity (under-reacting or not noticing sensory input).
Join Our Community
Join us to meet like-minded professionals, exchange experiences, and help build a more accessible cultural landscape across Europe.