A systemic approach to accessibility: actors and tools to support regional policies for inclusive cities

"Thanks to efforts made in recent years, today spatial accessibility in Italy is understood to be a significant challenge for spatial regeneration in small, medium and large cities. Since 1986, national legislation has promoted the implementation of Plans for the Removal of Architectural Barriers (PEBAs; Law no. 41/1986). However, over time, their development has severely decreased, mostly due to a lack of targeted resources and specific information regarding their operational contents. Nonetheless, over the last 15 years, a number of regional governments have made efforts to foster planning for accessibility at a local level. This commitment has resulted in the development of regional laws addressed to guarantee the right to inclusion for all and to promote the implementation of the PEBAs. In 2018, FVG passed Regional Law no.10 and launched the project FVG Accessibile, proving the Region to be one of the most upstanding public administrations in Italy and one of the few adopting a systemic approach to mapping and enhancing accessibility. Since that time, several initiatives have been developed to increase the use of PEBAs by regional municipalities, and improve the quality of public spaces and services."