The impartiality of the universe … and our attitudes

Abstract Astronomy is a democratic and fair science. People feel curious and fascinated about the Universe, regardless their culture or abilities. Modern astronomical observation are also “impartial” with regards to sensory abilities, because they are made of numbers, representing the physical features of the observed object. Those numbers are often converted into visuals. Indeed, they could be converted into any attribute of any representation, such as sensory stimuli in multi-sensory representations, offering an effective common ground for inclusion and equity. In Italy, the working group for outreach and education of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) is greatly concerned with designing and creating brand new inclusive outreach and educational practices with essential help of experts and disabled people. Besides significant efforts for the inclusion of physical and sensory impairments, we have also implemented important actions aimed at easing social and cultural inclusion. These activities need attentive design and step-by-step evaluation in order to prevent the unconscious introduction of barriers of any kind. We have started many fruitful partnerships, both with the capillary and vast national network of amateur astronomers and with educators and tutors for specific disabilities, with the aim of developing professional standards in the field of inclusion through astronomy.