by Gabriella Cetorelli (Ministero della Cultura – Comitato Unico di Garanzia) and Luca Papi (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Dipartimento di Scienze Umane e sociali, patrimonio culturale).
In 2018 – after a long journey begun in 2008 with the adoption of the Guidelines for the elimination of architectural barriers in places of cultural interest (Ministerial Decree 28 March 2008) – a new vision of the concept of valorizing cultural heritage was spread, through the adoption of the Plans for the Elimination of Architectural Barriers in places of culture, which directed museums, monuments, monumental complexes, state archaeological areas and parks open to the public, to carry out preventive analyses in order to design actions, services and itineraries dedicated to enjoyment for the greatest number of visitors.
These requirements were incorporated into the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which, within the aim of the objectives identified by the European Union, through € 300 million in funding to the Ministry, recognized the fundamental role of training of heritage professionals.
Therefore, it was a matter about filling a technical gap because until then there wasn’t work that summarized, in a textbook format, the aspects of “planning for all.” This need was accepted by the National Research Council – Department of Human and Social Sciences, Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture – General Secretariat.
They promoted the drafting of the first Design Manual for Accessibility and Expanded Use of Cultural Heritage. From the Functioning of People to the Functioning of Cultural Places.
The Manual was published by CNR Editions and drafted in digital (freely available at the institutional website) and paper versions, following the basic principles of accessibility.
The volume was presented at the National Research Council Headquarters on April 12, 2024, and at the Spadolini Hall of the Ministry of Culture on December 11, 2024, attracting widespread interest among academics, professionals, and operators.
It is the collaborative work of a group of 35 researchers, with experts, scholars, and technicians: an authoritative representative of Italian culture about this field. They were driven by a common goal: placing the visitor of heritage at the center of attention, surrounded by appropriately designed cultural sites, like the sun and planets in Copernicus’s heliocentric theory, representing a new humanism based on values. An innovative methodology was used; it was founded on interdisciplinarity and the integration of different knowledge and fields of expertise.
The work is divided into eight chapters, beginning with the functioning of individuals understood as a complex system (based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health), ending with the functioning of cultural venues, understood as material and immaterial “spaces”.
This is followed by a phase relating to accessible design, explored in various “architectural” contexts, considered in the broadest sense of the term: physical, sensorial-perceptual, cultural, cognitive, and technological.
The “right to beauty” is embodied in the presentation of exemplary design cases in unique and valuable cultural heritage sites, as well as in the illustration of pilot projects which provide occasions for thought and discussion.
The meeting with heritage audiences happens within the historical excursus that led to the implementation of the Plans for the Elimination of Architectural Barriers: perceptual, cultural, and cognitive barriers in cultural sites.
Furthermore, the vision extends to accessibility and expands enjoyment of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which have been playing a leading role in the recognition of culture as a “global public good”, through the presentation of case studies.
This is followed by a section on facilitators of cultural sites, presented through a detailed glossary, designed to ensure consistency of intent with the proposed objectives. Then, a broad and detailed analysis of national, European, and international regulations regarding accessibility and expanded use is presented: a valuable and essential tool for consultation, knowledge, and study for those wishing to approach the culture of hospitality.
Therefore, the Manual presents itself as an ongoing tool that, far from seeking to establish fixed points and conclusions, intends to initiate virtuous development models for the heritage of the future.
The centrality of this work is based on the principles of Universal Design.
From this perspective, the functioning of cultural places is the prerequisite for designing consciously and responsibly accessibility, not only to overcome barriers but, above all, to support functional change, based on the new needs manifested by social complexity.
Therefore, the manual is not merely a set of technical guidelines but represents a journey of interdisciplinary research and reflection with the aim of guiding through the path to universal accessibility. The value of this work lies precisely in this vision: an open participatory culture, in which diversity becomes wealth and accessibility is not a constraint but an opportunity for the growth of society as a whole.
In this sense, we decided to present the work in multiple “languages,” launching a shared journey that places at the center the individuals, their rights, and their ability to experience culture in its various forms.
It all began with a careful observation by Professor Aldo Grassini, President of the “Omero” State Tactile Museum in Ancona, who, upon receiving a paper copy of the Manual, pointed out that it was impossible for the visually impaired to read. This impulse told us we needed to get back on track.
The Manual, an expression of present-day concerns, was presented, as mentioned above, in April 2024 at the Marconi Hall of the National Research Council. A few days later, in May 2024, Legislative Decree 62/2024 was enacted confirming the vision presented in the volume. It adopted a bio-psycho-social approach to disability. It also recognized the “Individual Life-Plan” as a subjective right, understood as a duty of public institutions, settling the person with disabilities at the center of social action. The aforementioned law also introduced a significant terminological update in the language of disability, replacing stigmatizing terms still in use with a person-first approach.
Given the relevance of the topics covered, it was decided to create an addendum to the volume, focusing specifically on aspects of language applied to disability which must be used thoughtfully, attentively, and respectfully. This resulted in a Policy Brief, published by National Research Council in October 2024 (freely downloadable from the institutional website), drafted by the authors. Therefore, in this journey aimed at overcoming cultural barriers, Professor Grassini’s impetus has shown us that it was the time to move from “the language to the languages.”
Coming back to Legislative Decree 62/2024, we focused on an aspect of the law that defines the Life Project as a path for achieving one’s goals and aspirations, helping processes of autonomy and self-determination.
These themes also encompass the relevant areas of education, understood as a fundamental human right, as stated in our Constitution. A universal education system is a crucial tool for creating an equitable, participated, and democratic society.
Therefore, the possibility of extending the aim of education to multiple languages can enable all heritage technicians to effectively become protagonists and interpreters of universal planning.
To achieve this goal, numerous Institutions were involved, in particular:
- the Italian Library for the Blind “Regina Margherita” in Monza, represented by its President, Professor Pietro Piscitelli, who, together with his talented staff, edited the Braille version of the Manual;
- the Foundation – Officina dei Sensi in Ascoli Piceno, represented by its Director, Dr. Mirco Fava and Dr. Lucilla Boschi, who, with expert collaborators, produced the Italian audiobook version of the work;
- the University of Macerata, represented by its Rector, Professor John Mc Court, Professor Elena Di Giovanni, and Professor Francesca Raffi, for the English version of the volume;
- the National Institute for the Deaf, represented by its President, Dr. Angelo Raffaele Cagnazzo, and the Association of Italian Sign Language Interpreters, represented by its President, Dr. Maria Dellino, for the Italian Sign Language version of the volume;
- the Institute for the Deaf of Turin, represented by its Director, Prof. Enrico Dolza, and Dr. Nicola Della Maggiora for the International Signs version.
These versions are complemented by the paper and digital versions in Italian edited by the authors.
This has led to the creation of the unique Technical Design Manual, both nationally and internationally, translated into seven different versions, each with different “languages”. It was presented on September 18, 2025, in the prestigious Sala della Crociera in the Palazzo del Collegio Romano, home of the Ministry of Culture.
In this project, we aimed to integrate Accessibility into the themes of Equal Opportunity and Research, combined with Experimentation.
A spoken English translation of the Manual is planned shortly, by the Foundation – Officina dei Sensi of Ascoli Piceno.
Finally, the aim is to create innovative consultation stations for the Manual, located nationwide, to promote the transversality of useful languages for the universal design of cultural sites and the training of future technicians.