Cristina Căluianu

CED Romania Association was founded in 2010 and, since 2014, has focused on improving accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities, with a particular interest in education, culture, tourism, and leisure activities. We developed Audara (www.audara.eu), an app that assesses the accessibility of cultural venues in Romania based on local regulations. It generates accessibility status reports in Romanian and English, supporting consulting and technical assistance for venue improvements. We are developing the English interface and expanding its scope to include hotels and train stations. We designed ArtEcho (www.artecho.ro), an audio guide platform that uses NFC, QR codes, and AI to deliver multilingual audio descriptions for exhibits. Available in Romanian and seven major languages, it was successfully piloted in early 2024 and is now being further developed for full-scale implementation. We implemented Timișoara4all (www.timisoara4all.eu) project in Timișoara – European Capital of Culture, introducing inclusive cultural experiences through: - A fully accessible tactile exhibition featuring large 3D models of 22 cultural buildings, tactile maps and boards, and tactile contemporary artwork; - Tactile kits with smaller 3D models and maps, designed to enable inclusive pedestrian tours for visually impaired individuals. These were distributed to tour guides and the local special school for the blind; - Training sessions for cultural operators and tourism professionals on accessibility best practices; - Development of accessible pedestrian tours in Timișoara and cross-border Romania-Hungary accessible tours. To promote economic inclusion, we established Accesibilitate 360, a commercial department within the organization, currently employing four persons with disabilities. Their work includes 3D model production, digital accessibility services, audit of the built environment and technical consultancy, and accessible communication. We are partners in a national disability-awareness campaign initiated by a local branch of a multinational company that will be launched at the end of March 2025. During this campaign, we conducted market research targeting persons with disabilities, their companions and the typical public to evaluate the needs and the expectations of these groups in terms of awareness, interaction, accessibility and inclusion in all aspects of life. The results of the research ground the strategy of the campaign and the action plan. We are also launching Romania-accesibila.ro, an accessibility resources hub, in March 2025. This platform will provide accessibility information, various databases, and e-learning training to raise awareness and enhance accessibility practices across multiple sectors. We collaborate with museums, cultural institutions, tourism operators, local authorities, educational institutions, and NGOs, fostering inclusive practices and advocating for accessibility improvements. We adhere to national and EU accessibility standards, applying Universal Design principles and user-centered approaches in all projects. Our initiatives emphasize practical solutions, ensuring direct benefits for persons with disabilities, professionals, and the wider community. Through innovation, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, we strive to make accessibility a standard, not an exception.