Museums for all: Perspectives of Special Pedagogy for inclusion. Musei per tutti: prospettive di Pedagogia Speciale per l’inclusione.

Accessibility to cultural heritage represents a fundamental right for social inclusion (United Nations, 2006). It is a key principle to eliminate barriers and ensure the inclusive enjoyment of cultural experiences. Within this frame, in this paper, we will discuss how digital technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), offer innovative solutions to meet the specific needs of people with disabilities, facilitating access and enriching the visitor experience. Specifically, this paper outlines a project undertaken by the Special Pedagogy research group at the University of Macerata to enhance the inclusivity of museum environments for people with intellectual disability and autism through the use of digital technologies. The findings highlight how the combined use of AR, VR, and AI fosters cultural participation and improves the well-being of people with disabilities, reinforcing the role of museums as inclusive spaces for learning and engagement.