Born from the legacy of the Consulta for People in Difficulty—which for 33 years has coordinated 60 Turin-based associations working alongside people with disabilities—Agendo per l'Agenda launches in January with a single aim: to create the first Disability Agenda. It will gather proposals, insights, and initiatives from public institutions and civil society, forming a real task force that works alongside and in partnership with nonprofits in daily contact with parents, families, and people affected by disability. That this is the natural evolution of the Consulta is clear from the words of Giovanni Ferrero, who has directed the Consulta for 20 years and is the son of its historic founder and president, Paolo—a music professor, RAI opera singer, and fierce defender of the rights of people with disabilities. Paolo spent his life dismantling the cultural, physical, and mental barriers that divide people and fracture relationships and consciences, pushing always for the integration and inclusion that make us equal in our differences. "I lived directly with the meaning of disability," Giovanni says. "My father had polio and believed that the worst handicap is failing to find solutions that improve others' lives out of indifference or laziness." The timeline is tight: within months, working groups were formed, reports shared, testimonies gathered, and debates organized—drawing in business and labor organizations, volunteers and academics, professional bodies and public institutions. The watchword is openness: the only path to that meeting of visions and experiences, however distant, that sparks understanding and the will to work on a project that rebuilds lives and relationships.
"The meetings happening now speak directly to civil society: associations, institutions, neighborhood committees, groups from other territories, universities, businesses, shops—every voice that wants to drive real progress on rights and integration is precious to us," Ferrero explains. He then makes an appeal: "We're calling especially on local organizations to name one or more representatives to join us at future gatherings, because the Agenda thrives on outside contributions, alternative ideas, constructive criticism, and lines of thought overlooked or never voiced before." The world of civil associations—that sprawling ecosystem that has always been the bedrock of care for people with disabilities and their families—carries within it a wealth of sensitivity, experience, and skill. To enable broad participation across the whole community and make that participation integral to the project, a virtual community was created. Already, over 600 nonprofit organizations have signed on. The countdown to December 3—when the Agenda will be officially presented on International Day of Persons with Disabilities—has begun. True to its mission, the Consulta now leads a lab for social and cultural innovation. In light of the complex and emerging needs of our time, it must respond with real solutions and innovative services to increasingly specific demands. Agendo per l'Agenda is the first and only experiment in Europe of its kind, capable of bringing together such a vast ecosystem of actors from an entire region, united in defining concrete goals for shared action alongside vulnerable people. It draws explicit inspiration from the United Nations' 2030 Agenda. "Drawing on the 17 sustainable development goals, we've identified six strategic priorities," Ferrero explains. "Social Housing, Supporting Families, Living in Community, Working to Grow, Learning Inside and Outside School, Healthcare and Self-Care."
Building ties between neighbors—so people can count on informal support—is essential to prevent loneliness and abandonment. So too is enabling people with disabilities to live independently or making co-housing arrangements sustainable for more people. For this to become widespread practice, families need access to respite care and emergency services. They need clear information about guardianship and supported decision-making—tools that clarify roles and responsibilities, especially for parents. The broader community—understood as a web of relationships beyond family—must expand opportunities, open itself to inclusion, offer meaningful connections, increase access, and volunteer time. Businesses and professionals must equally make space for training and placement programs that help people with disabilities enter and stay in the workforce. "There's no point repeating it," Ferrero says, "but schools are the starting point and must remain so: they alone can design, for each child and adolescent with disability, not just a specific educational plan but a transition program to adult life—including access to group experiences, vocational and cultural opportunities, both formal and informal." Finally, much remains to be done on comprehensive care: finding ways to guide and mediate access to healthcare and rehab services, especially for those with significant support needs. Removing technical and organizational barriers to create real equal opportunity for all citizens requires only a collective effort. Just enough to ensure this ceases to be a dream.
Autumn 2023 update: The Disability Agenda has been created and can be viewed here.