By Antonia Calin ’22 (Bucharest, Romania, placed by ASSE in Tyler, TX)
Imagine walking into a room where mayors, journalists, and NGO leaders from across Romania are blindfolded, navigating with white canes, or trying to move around in wheelchairs. This was the scene on November 14, 2024, at the “Ambassadors of Accessibility and Inclusion” event held at the British Ambassador’s residence in Bucharest. Organized by Denisa Tudorache ’24 in collaboration with Light into Europe, an organization that advocates for individuals with sensory impairments, the event was a powerful exercise in empathy, highlighting the importance of accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities.
The event brought together 40 participants, including officials from Bucharest, Ploiești, Iași, and Târgoviște, as well as representatives from NGOs like Climb Again, which specializes in providing opportunities to children and youth with special needs. Through hands-on activities, attendees gained insight into the daily challenges faced by people with disabilities, sparking meaningful discussions about how to create a more inclusive society.
For Denisa, this project was more than an event—it was personal. As a visually impaired individual, she has experienced both the struggles and the possibilities of inclusion. A defining moment in her journey was her participation in the FLEX program, which allowed her to spend a year as an exchange student in Texas.
During her time in the U.S., Denisa attended a mainstream high school where accessibility wasn’t an afterthought—it was the norm. From accessible infrastructure to supportive teachers and peers, she felt included in ways that were transformative. Her disability wasn’t seen as a limitation, but simply as part of who she was. This experience was a stark contrast to some of the barriers she had encountered in Romania, and it inspired her to bring similar inclusive practices back home.
Upon returning to Romania, Denisa reconnected with Light into Europe, a British-Romanian charity dedicated to improving the lives of sensory-impaired individuals. Her journey with the organization began during a high school book club and deepened through an Erasmus+ project. Over the years, she has worked closely with the charity, helping to organize events and develop initiatives that address the needs of people with disabilities.
At the “Ambassadors of Accessibility and Inclusion” event, Denisa took on multiple roles, including co-authoring and translating a manifesto that addressed key areas such as education, transportation, healthcare, and employment. Her focus on inclusive education drew from her personal and academic experiences, making her contribution especially impactful.
The event didn’t end with discussions. It catalyzed action. In December, a follow-up meeting with the mayor of Sector 2 in Bucharest led to plans for several projects in 2025, including an Accessibility Hub, an Inclusion Week, an accessible neighborhood for independent living, and an orchestra and theater troupe for people with disabilities. Support also came from UNICEF Romania and Kanal D, a Romanian television channel, which broadcasted the event, further amplifying its message.
The “Ambassadors of Accessibility and Inclusion” project is a testament to what can happen when personal passion meets collective action. Denisa’s experiences, from her transformative year in Texas to her advocacy in Romania, have fueled her commitment to building a society where everyone can thrive. As she says, “True inclusion starts when we stop seeing disabilities as barriers and start seeing possibilities.”
Featured alumna:
Denisa Tudorache ’24 (Bucharest, Romania, placed by ASSE in Normangee, TX)
