What will be tested
The visitor pathway is one of the two pilots of INCLUDE-ID. It will test an adaptive cultural experience for children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities aged 6 to 17, built on a network of schools and cultural institutions.
Each child visits with their class, not apart from it. All classmates take part in multisensory activities, so the experience is shared. Adaptive digital tools, including artificial intelligence, adjust the visit to each child, while guides, teachers and families stay at the centre of the experience.
How the experience will work
- Before the visit. At school, each child with an intellectual disability builds a personal profile of strengths, needs, interests and preferences. The whole class explores artworks through interactive, tactile, 3D and virtual or augmented reality activities, guided by teachers and educators.
- At the cultural institution. The class visits one of the three institutions. Content, interaction and the environment, such as lighting and sound, adapt to the child's sensory, cognitive and communication needs. A second visit to the same institution follows with the family.
- After the visit. Back at school, adaptive and creative activities help children build on what they experienced. Families receive a personalised report, as an interactive page and as an easy-to-read printable version with pictograms.
Where it will happen
- Milan
- Museo Rovati. Etruscan heritage in dialogue with contemporary art
- Varese
- Villa Panza. Contemporary American art and site-specific environmental installations
- Bergamo
- Palazzo Moroni. A historic residence with a major fresco cycle and a green space in the heart of the city
How success will be measured
The pilot will look at autonomy-related behaviours, mainly participation and enjoyment. It will also assess whether the pathway is feasible and whether other institutions can adopt it.
Evidence will come from structured observations, visual self-reports and feedback from children, families, teachers and cultural institution staff. The tools are co-designed with these same groups.
- At least 100 children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities involved
- At least 85% positive feedback on the AI support tools
- At least 75% participant satisfaction, with demonstrated improvements in autonomy-related behaviours
Timeline and reports
- Led by
- IRCCS Eugenio Medea (work packages 12 to 14)
- Preparation
- September 2027 to February 2028: assessment indicators framework
- Testing
- March 2028 to February 2030
- Mid-term report
- Due February 2029
- Final report
- Due February 2030
- Policy recommendations
- Replication guidelines for scaling inclusive visits, due August 2030