EUknow.it is an inclusive and accessible tool that accompanies those implementing European projects in the field. Let’s find out how, with Paola Vulterini
Our fellow travelers: the experience of Paola Vulterini, disability planner and activist
European design is an exciting but often lonely journey, amid deadlines, forms to fill out, and partners to coordinate. We want to tell you how the new Guide can accompany you on your European design journey, and to do so we have chosen exceptional traveling companions from the world of European design, academia, local government and civil society, along with our partners.In this sixth stage, Paola Vulterini, a designer who has been active for years in the development and projects on inclusion and disability, tells us how the Guide can be a tool to make European design more accessible.
Paola Vulterini has led the International Office of the Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome (AIPD) since 2021, where she has designed, promoted and managed numerous projects in collaboration with the European Down Syndrome Association (EDSA). He is also in charge of the European ValueAble network, which brings together stakeholders in the tourism, restaurant and hospitality industry who support the employment inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Throughout his career, he has designed and coordinated dozens of European projects, thanks to which interventions have been developed to promote the employment of people with disabilities, the exercise of political rights, educational mobility, accessible tourism, and participation in the arts. Her involvement stems from her master’s degree in political science, with a specialization in the rights of people with disabilities, which led her to actively support the Disability Rights Movement. Her European roots run deep: already between 1985 and 1986 she worked at the European Commission Office dedicated to disability policies. She has also worked with the Italian government on disability issues and taught at several universities.
The Guide: a tool for inclusive and accessible European design
EUknow.it is designed to be a tool that can be used by all those who carry out projects for their organizations but are not necessarily European designers by profession.
If you reflect yourself in this profile, let’s try to elaborate: here are some reasons why the Guide is the tool for you.
- EUknow.it is a tool that puts accessibility first, both from a readability and content perspective. The Guide is configured with accessibility adjustments to customize the display of pages and text, while the Questions and Answers section helps you understand how to best use the Guide according to your needs. The Handbook provides information to help you get your bearings and get an initial overview of European funds, with access to official reference documents.
- To enable those working in the field to gain the knowledge needed to turn their ideas into projects, the Guide offers tools on preliminary steps, elements to consider in presenting and structuring a project, as well as companion articles on more complex topics such as partner search and partnership management once a project is underway.
- The Guide is designed to optimize time for research and analysis of European opportunities, even for those who, engaged in daily project implementation, have little time. The Calls Portal offers a monthly selection of opportunities, while the program tabs allow you to analyze each program quickly on a single web page. And, to refine one’s research method, insights are available from the Questions and Answers section on how to search for European calls for proposals and keep up to date.
- EUknow.it supports the empowerment of those working in the field, accompanying them in project management and the delicate phase of reporting, but also with News about training opportunities in European planning. News about infodays on European programs organized by national contact points and opportunities offered by other actors, including the Guide’s partner foundations. Guides and tools include companion tracks, sample program guides, webinars and podcasts. And, for even more intuitive multimedia resources, a selection of Audio and Video content is available.
- The Guide is not just a container of information, but acts as a catalyst for relationships, facilitating networking and peer-to-peer learning for organizations. The added value lies in the ability to connect with a community of actors (foundations, national points of contact, other organizations) that carry best practices, projects and experiences in areas such as inclusion, environment, and territorial development.
These are just some of the resources you can find by browsing EUknow.co.uk. Subscribing to the Newsletter allows you to stay informed about new content being published. Keep following us in the next videopills to discover the sections and contents of the Guide, along with new fellow travelers.
