The Sensory@Work Project Is Underway

Sensory-Friendly Workplaces for Inclusive Employment

Workplaces Designed for People. Opportunities for Everyone.

Project Summary

Sensory@Work is an international project dedicated to developing, testing and validating an innovative and transferable model for sensory-friendly employment. The project aims to support the sustainable inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly those with sensory sensitivities and neurodivergent profiles, in the labour market.

The project addresses the need for accessible, structured and predictable working environments that reduce sensory overload and promote employee autonomy, well-being and performance.

An international consortium of universities, rehabilitation institutions, employers and social enterprises from Slovenia, Croatia and Italy is working together to develop and validate the Sensory-Friendly Employment Model.

Main Objectives

Develop and validate an innovative, transferable model for sensory-friendly employment.
Identify and reduce sensory, organisational and communication barriers in the workplace.
Develop practical tools for assessing and adapting working environments.
Strengthen the capacities of employers, mentors, managers and HR professionals.
Ensure the active participation of persons with disabilities in developing inclusive employment solutions.
Promote the wider adoption of evidence-based inclusive employment practices across Europe.

Key Activities

The project combines participatory research, co-design, practical innovation and testing in real workplace settings.

Project partners will develop the Sensory Audit Tool to assess workplace sensory conditions, alongside environmental adaptation guidelines, structured daily work routines and individualised mentoring approaches.

A key innovative component is the development of an AI-based digital assistant, providing interactive guidance and access to the Sensory Employment Toolkit, Employer Handbook and training materials.

The developed solutions will be tested and validated through pilot activities in Slovenia, Croatia and Italy. These activities will be complemented by international workshops, training sessions, knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement.

Target Groups

Sensory@Work addresses stakeholders whose involvement is essential to more accessible and inclusive employment:

Persons with disabilities, particularly neurodivergent individuals and people with sensory sensitivities, including those seeking employment or support to remain in work.
Employers and companies that already employ persons with disabilities, or are interested in developing more inclusive recruitment and employment practices.
Managers and HR professionals responsible for recruitment, development, workplace organisation and employee well-being.
Workplace mentors, employment advisers and other professionals supporting employees with disabilities.
Vocational rehabilitation providers and employment services.
Organisations of persons with disabilities, social enterprises and policymakers.

Expected Results

A validated and transferable Sensory-Friendly Employment Model.
Practical workplace sensory assessment and adaptation tools.
The Sensory Employment Toolkit and Employer Handbook.
An AI-based digital assistant supporting employers, mentors and HR professionals.
Pilot validation of the model in three participating countries.
Training activities for employers, mentors and other relevant professionals.
A transnational knowledge-transfer network.
Policy recommendations supporting the wider adoption of inclusive employment practices.
A final conference presenting the project’s findings and results.

Project Information

Project title: Sensory-Friendly Workplaces for Inclusive Employment

Project acronym: Sensory@Work

Project number: ESF-SI-2025-DEP-01-0001

Programme: European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), Social Innovation+ Initiative

Call: Implementing the Disability Employment Package – innovative approaches to improve labour market outcomes for persons with disabilities

Project duration: 1 September 2026 –1 September 2028

EU funding: EUR 926 707,00

Granting Authority: European Social Fund Agency

Project Coordinator – Contact Details

Univerza Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor (AMEU)

Slovenska ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Contact person: Petra Braček Kirbiš
Position: Project Office
Telephone: +386 59 333 075
Email: petra.bk@almamater.si

Project Partners

The Sensory@Work consortium consists of eight organisations from three European countries.

Slovenia

Univerza Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor (AMEU) – Project Coordinator
KADRING – kadrovsko in poslovno svetovanje, d.o.o.
MOZAIK DOBROT, proizvodnja, trgovina in storitve d.o.o.
Univerzitetni rehabilitacijski inštitut Republike Slovenije Soča (URI Soča)

Croatia

Sveučilište Sjever (UNIN)
Udruga za autizam “Pogled”

Italy

Liberitutti – Società Cooperativa Sociale S.P.A.
Università degli Studi di Torino (UNITO)

Project Results and Updates

This section will be regularly updated with information on project progress and achievements, including:

Research findings and workplace assessments.
Sensory-friendly employment tools and guidelines.
Pilot implementation activities and validation results.
Training materials and capacity-building activities.
Project publications, reports and policy recommendations.
International events, workshops and conferences.

Together, we are creating workplaces that adapt to people, recognise individual potential and make inclusive employment a reality.

“Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.”