In January, in Milan, the first focus groups of the Reading it the (Right) Way! project took place, marking a key step in concretely shaping the training pathway we are developing.

We organized two structured sessions built around guiding questions and collective discussion. The aim was to gather training needs, direct experiences, and perspectives related to reading in social and educational contexts, involving professionals from the cultural, social, and educational sectors, alongside neurodivergent individuals.

The discussion focused on reading as a practice of inclusion. Not only as an individual act, but as an experience that takes shape within specific spaces, relationships, and contexts. We examined the role of the environments in which reading occurs, the conditions that can make it more accessible, and the ways in which it can become a tool for educational support and positive reinforcement in everyday activities.

A clear need emerged for concrete tools, shared language, and models capable of integrating cultural dimensions with social responsibility. In this sense, reading can become a mechanism that fosters participation, autonomy, and a sense of belonging.

The insights gathered during these meetings will form the foundation for the development of a training programme dedicated to those working with reading in social and cultural settings, with particular attention to accessibility and adult neurodiversity.

In addition, further focus groups will be carried out by CFCECAS and ADDER, the project partners, in order to broaden the methodological scope and expand the data available to us, focusing on Romania and Turkey and on the specific characteristics that distinguish them from Italy.

Sincere thanks go to everyone who participated and contributed their expertise and experience, and to our facilitator Cristina Zeppini, who coordinated the sessions with care, attention, and sensitivity.