On World Theatre Day, we invite you to discover the Self‑Determination & Inclusion by Theatre (SDIT) project (2023–2025). SDIT was a three‑year European Erasmus+ initiative aimed at promoting the self‑determination, autonomy, and social inclusion of autistic youth and adults through participatory theatre. Anchored in the principle that access to cultural life is a human right, theatre has proved to be a powerful tool to strengthen confidence, communication, and community belonging among autistic people.
The project developed and implemented an innovative adult‑education course designed for professionals in the performing arts, giving them the skills needed to meaningfully include autistic participants in theatre productions. This training was delivered in Portugal, Spain, and Italy, and builds on a successful existing pilot led by Teatro da Vila and Inovar Autismo (both from Portugal). The project consortium included Autism‑Europe, the coordinator ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon, Autismo Sevilla (Spain), and Diversamente ODV (Italy).
A major milestone came with the pilot course, which trained 45 theatre professionals. Overwhelmingly positive feedback indicated that over 90% felt the course met or exceeded expectations, and over 70% said it deepened their understanding of autism. The project successfully challenged the misconception that autistic people can only participate in disability‑specific theatre groups, demonstrating instead that the stage can be a fully inclusive space where everyone can express who they are.
In May 2025, during a side event held alongside AE’s general assembly in Cagliari, Sardinia, Diversamente ODV collaborated with a local community theatre at Casa Saddi, a cultural centre housed in a historic building in the Pirri district, to stage an inclusive performance featuring autistic actors as a preview of their larger production.
The SDIT documentary film features interviews with the casts and crew of the performances staged in Italy, Portugal and Spain, as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses of rehearsals and excerpts from the plays. The documentary illustrates the transformative impact of inclusive theatre on autistic and non‑autistic participants alike, highlighting theatre’s capacity to build empathy, shift societal perceptions, and foster genuine inclusion.
Overall, SDIT marks a significant step in reshaping Europe’s cultural sector to become more accessible, empowering autistic people to participate fully and authentically in the performing arts.
Download the SDIT Handbook for inclusive theatre here.
Watch he SDIT Documentary here.