Polis Up – AAC Accessible City
Entity which complete it
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Where it takes place
Range of age
Type of disability
Project link
Why is it a good practice of the Person-Centered Model?
Pioneering urban transformation initiative that makes San Cesareo the first city completely accessible in AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). The project includes signage with pictograms, urban maps in easy reading, inclusive libraries, adapted parks and public centers designed with the collaboration of people with complex communication needs.
Person-centered approach: Co-design with people with disabilities, their families and the community. Real participation in the design of spaces and communication materials ensures cognitive and communicative accessibility in all public environments.
Integrated Assessment (Person, Family, Housing) and Life History
Polis Up begins with an assessment not of individuals, but of the city environment itself. The project identifies how communication barriers in public spaces, schools and community settings affect people with communication disabilities. Instead of focusing on medical or personal histories, it examines how housing, mobility, public services and everyday interactions limit or enable participation. By treating communication accessibility as a collective responsibility, the project acknowledges that autonomy and inclusion depend on how the city is designed and how its inhabitants interact.
Personalised Care and Support Plan for the Life Project
Although it does not create individual care plans, Polis Up provides a form of personalised support through environmental adaptation. By introducing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) signs, symbols and tools across the town, it enables people with communication difficulties to navigate public life more independently. This environmental support helps individuals pursue their daily activities—education, leisure, community participation—according to their own needs and preferences. In this sense, the project supports personal life goals by ensuring that the environment does not become a barrier.
Support groups
The project fosters community involvement among families, students, teachers, professionals and local organisations. Through workshops, training sessions and collaborative activities, participants share experiences and learn how to create an inclusive communication environment. While these are not traditional support groups, they function as collective learning and support spaces where people strengthen connections, build awareness and develop a shared commitment to inclusion.
Case Management and Resource Coordinator
Implementation is coordinated by the local municipality in collaboration with social cooperatives and community partners. They manage planning, installation of AAC signage, school engagement, professional training and community outreach. This coordinated structure ensures consistency across different areas of town and maintains the project’s long-term sustainability. The coordination acts as a central system that aligns resources, monitors progress and adapts strategies as needed.
Highlined results
Greater social inclusion, effective access to public services, improvement in understanding the urban environment and international reference in communicative accessibility.
Inspiring ideas for other enviorments. It can works! 😉
Polis Up demonstrates how a city can become genuinely inclusive by embedding communication accessibility into its public spaces. Instead of expecting individuals to adapt, the environment adapts to them. This approach can be replicated anywhere—small towns, neighbourhoods, schools or public services—by integrating AAC into urban design. The project shows that inclusion is not only a matter of specialised services, but a cultural shift supported by community involvement and accessible environments.
Other observations
Municipality of San Cesareo