The This Ability Pride Veneto, which is regularly held in the city of Padua, represents an important opportunity to promote awareness and foster a culture of inclusion. The event was established three years ago through the initiative of a Padua-based association, “Muoversi in libertà”, led by Claudia Frizzarin, a person with a disability who is well known in the city. This year, the event took place from 17 to 20 September and featured the performance Un altro mo[n]do by Ludovico Lancia, a theatrical piece that stands out for its creativity and originality. Ludovico, who is on the autism spectrum, is a member of “I Talents”, a well-known group in Padua that organises and promotes a range of activities in the field of disability. In 2023, I Talents came into contact with the CAM, the University Centre for Museums (Centro di Ateneo per i Musei). This encounter led to the development of a project called “More than Words”, through which the young people involved in the group were allowed to become acquainted with the museums of the University of Padua, which had previously been unfamiliar to them.

The collaboration between CAM and I Talents subsequently created an opportunity, promoted by the Vocational Integration Service of ULSS 6 Euganea, for Ludovico to undertake a training placement at the Museum of Nature and Humankind (Museo della Natura e dell’Uomo), the largest university museum in Europe, which opened in 2023. Over time, together with his educator, Sebastiano, they began to envision a pathway that would enable Ludovico to challenge himself and bring out his potential and abilities, while at the same time ensuring that he felt supported and protected throughout the process. The project placed particular emphasis on his deep passion for history and for all forms of creative expression. Ludovico therefore undertook a training placement in the Anthropology section, where he was responsible for managing inventory loading documents. Initially, the experience was not easy for him. However, once the project got underway, Ludovico successfully completed his placement and, above all, allowed himself to be inspired by this valuable experience, which he subsequently transferred into the world of theatre by writing the performance described above.

The performance “Un altro mo[n]do” was staged by the Teatro Nove Vite theatre company, which successfully conveyed the educational message of the story through simple yet effective use of words, sounds and music. A particularly valuable aspect of the experience was the use, within the performance, of images and the evocative power of specific objects, such as a spear and a cooking pot. These were objects that had particularly fascinated Ludovico during his time at the Museum of Nature and Humankind. His vivid imagination, which might be perceived as a challenge in other employment contexts, was instead transformed into a strength through the writing and staging of this theatrical performance. Before the show began, the Teatro Nove Vite company, in collaboration with CAM, also organised a tactile workshop focusing exclusively on the stage materials. This allowed the audience to explore and touch some of the objects that would subsequently be used during the performance.

In this sense, the performance can be regarded as an important example of inclusion and, more specifically, as a valuable example of vocational inclusion for Ludovico, who may continue his collaboration with the Museum. Following the performance, a panel discussion was organised involving several representatives of educational services from different institutions across the city, including the Municipality of Padua, ULSS 6 Euganea and CAM itself. A key message emerging from the different contributions was the importance of ensuring that culture is accessible to everyone, as well as the significant role that museums can play in promoting awareness of good practices in inclusion. Furthermore, the performance represented a particularly valuable example of effective collaboration among different professional figures and the University. In conclusion, this experience can be regarded as a meaningful embodiment of Claudia Frizzarin’s motto: “I do not want to be included; I want to be anticipated.”