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A Place for Everyone: Work, Dignity, and Autism at AUTelier

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A Holiday at Europing: An Accessible Paradise in Tarquinia

A week of fun, laughter, and discovery in a campsite designed for everyone — especially families and people with disabilities.

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Padel for Autism: A Game Where Everyone Wins

How a sport born of competition became a space of connection and joy for children on the spectrum and their families

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Suitcase, No Baggage

Dancing with Compagnia della Mia Misura, where every step speaks of uniqueness and encounter—a performance that celebrates diversity as expressive and relational power.

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Master Bakers in 31 Small Homes

How a group of parents built "Ylenia e gli Amici Speciali," an association dedicated to independence, work, and shared life for people with disabilities.

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What the Label Tells

La Comune Foundation in Milan: supporting independent living for people with partial autonomy

Open Dialogue · Projects

Open Dialogue No. 168

On inclusive soccer, peace in a Faith and Light community, and the death of a friend.

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A Vision Worthy of Our Humanity

September 12-15, 2024: the Aut Art festival gives voice to neurodivergent artists

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Open Doors

The Cassiavass cooperative in Rome

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What If We Rethought the Shopping Trip?

Margareth Martino on "We Are Friends of ScopriAMO Autism"

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Baskin Comes to Monopoli

How Our Inclusive Team Was Born

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A Restaurant That Welcomes Everyone: Inside PizzAut

My friends and I discover what inclusion tastes like

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Breaking Down the Barriers

Evening outings with the Messina community

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City Strategies

Claiming a simple right to community life

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Pippo's Kitchen

A workshop-restaurant near Bologna

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When "I" Becomes "We"

Athletica Vaticana, the Holy See's Multi-Sport Association

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Recipes for Success: Healthcare in a Family Home

How Sacra Famiglia delivers care to those the system forgets

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An Erasmus Year of Faith and Light

A Conversation with Samuèl Lopez Ruiz

Editorial · Projects

Why Health Really Matters

Not special treatment—just attention and accommodations that work

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Working at Caritas

As I mentioned some time ago, I was asked to help the managers of the diocesan Caritas solidarity shop.

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Through Half-Closed Shutters

Cinema and Healing at Rome's Mental Health Film Festival

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A Community of Communities

Progetto Sud in Lamezia Terme

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#DisabledMothers

Motherhood with a disability is possible. On International Women's Day 2023, the association "Disability, Independence, Motherhood — DisabledMothers" officially launches.

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The Pleasure of Touch

At the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona

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We Made It!

Blind Cyclists Meet Pope Francis

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Bari's Shining Path

For decades, a cycling park built for disabled riders has thrived in this southern city

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Rewriting the Problem: How a Father and Son Found Joy on Two Wheels

Two fathers, two sons, and the tandem that embraces

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Tandem in Trentino

Andrea's summer adventure, told in his own words

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Bologna to Rome: Pedaling Possibilities in The Rainbow Community's Tandem Journey

An Interview with Stefano and the Extraordinary Adventures of Inclusive Travel – From Dirt Roads to Roman Streets, Celebrating 20 Years of The Rainbow Community

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DIS/Integration: Art from Sant'Egidio's Workshops

Works on view at Roma Tre University through December 16

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The Revolution of the Knife

The story of the Ethical Hotel in Asti and how it changed the world

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TikiTaka

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Bologna to Rome by Tandem

A group of people with disabilities and their companions take on an ambitious journey with a bold goal

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The Magic of Our Days Together

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Everyone Gives, Everyone Receives

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From That Closet

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The Quiet Grace That Won My Son Over

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Fans of Access

Open Dialogue · Projects

Open Dialogue No. 156

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From Midnight Trams to the Spotlight

Interview · Projects

Just South of the Equator

An Interview with Emanuela Posa, Aid Worker in the Democratic Republic of Congo

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Universal Child Allowance: What Changes for Families

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I Publish Books. I Want Everyone to Read Them.

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How a Book Can Change Everything

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Tending the Land and the People Left in Your Care

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Tango Tonight?

In Latina, L'Oltre Tango teaches people with cognitive, physical, motor, and neurodegenerative disabilities to dance—and to live more fully.

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Agendo for the Agenda Opens to Civil Society

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Rome Backs a New Pathway for Mothers With Disabilities

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Whose Right Is It?

Adoption of children with special educational needs

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Ibrahimu on Justo's Shoulders

Interview · Projects

What the Convention Says—and Doesn't

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Senza Alveare a Natale...

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The First of Many?

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Museum for All

The project by L'Abilità to make places of art accessible not only physically, but also cognitively, to everyone.

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The Ferryman

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Young People, I'm Calling on You

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A Disability Expert at the Table: Giampiero Griffo Joins Italy's Coronavirus Recovery Task Force

The committee will develop and propose measures to manage the emergency and ensure a gradual recovery across social, economic, and productive sectors

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On Reopening Rehabilitation Day Centers

The vicious circle that makes a necessary service impossible

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Parks for All: Milan Opens Its Third Accessible Playground

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Network Sociale: Building a Connected Community in Ravenna

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A New Equestrian Therapy Center for Children with Disabilities

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Training Camp: Young People and Volunteers with Disabilities Join Civil Protection

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Hostability: Lazio's Accessible Tourism Initiative for Young People With Disabilities

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Lavagna Opens Accessible Beach for People with Disabilities

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Tuscany Creates Forum for Disability Organizations

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Liguria Funds 110 Groups to Serve Disabled and Elderly Residents

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Audio Guides for ATMs: Banks Move to Help Blind and Low-Vision Users

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The 2019 Budget Law: What Changes for People with Disabilities

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Free Seminar in Bari on Disability Policy

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Walking at Your Own Pace: AGESCI and Inclusion

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Disability Pride Comes to Rome: A March for the Rights of People with Disabilities

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Two Captains

Interview · Projects

My Strength in My Difference

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Play for All: Milan Opens Its First Accessible Playground

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Riccione Transforms Former Slaughterhouse into Disability Support Center

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Anffas Opens Its Doors: 60 Years of Building the Future

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As Brother and Father

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Rebel Brains — Connecting to Neurodiversity

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"Walk a Mile in Our Wheels": A Wheelchair Journey at Spain Square

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People with Intellectual Disabilities at the Ballot: A TV Discussion

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Making All Things New

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After Us: The Rights That Already Exist

A contribution from the Fondazione Promozione Sociale, which for years has monitored Italy's care and support landscape

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Dear Raffa, Life Is Now

Letizia reflects on why we must confront the question of independent living for people with intellectual disabilities—away from their families.

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After Us: Setting Sail

Editorial · Projects

Building Welcome

There is no doubt: if a path to safety exists, every human being will try to take it. Let us not tire of asking questions—and let us build a culture of welcome.

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When Fragility Meets Fragility: Disabled Journalists Report on Migrants

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"It Will Be Beautiful"

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After Us: The Unfinished Work of Italy's New Disability Law

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The New "After Us" Law: What You Need to Know

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Do Our Hearts Include Everyone?

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Opening Our Eyes: L'Abilità's Mission

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I Count Too

Vittorio Scelzo of the Sant'Egidio Community reflects on how people with disabilities have come to understand their own rights—and how society has come to recognize them.

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Specialized Parents: The Pedagogical Consulting Service of Trento

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From Care to Personhood: Six Workshops by Vedere Oltre

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The Gospel in Mime: Building Bridges

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Pope Francis at Il Chicco: "You Touched My Heart"

A private, quiet visit because he wanted to live our life for a while: having a snack together, chatting, and praying with us

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The Grain: Living the Gospel in Action

Once a month, at Il Chicco we gather for a special encounter with the Gospel through biblical dramatization—an active, embodied way of living God's Word together.

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A Creative Workshop in Pantigliate

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Spiritually, the Little Sisters Are Not Disabled

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A Bridge in a Nutshell

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A Celebration at Castelporziano

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Pinocchio on Stage: Theater That Brings Everyone Together

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The More I Dig, the More I Find

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A Thousand Voices

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Sparks of Friendship

La Scintilla is an association of young adults with intellectual disabilities, their families, and friends. Born from the need to create pathways toward growth, social inclusion, and independent living.

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The Lamp of Wishes

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Family for Whom, Family for What?

A conference marking 25 years of Il Carro reflects on the evolving role of residential care homes, with particular attention to disability.

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Breath by Breath: Yoga for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs

Ylenia Malti is a yoga teacher whose passion—and whose work—is to share the gifts that yoga practice and philosophy have given her with children and adolescents with special needs.

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All Are Chosen — Yoga for People with Disabilities

An ancient practice now used as alternative therapy for disabled people. Andrea Cesarini from Milan shares his experience as a yoga instructor.

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A Choir for Everyone

The Resilience Choir, conducted by maestro Hugues Reiner, rehearses weekly in Paris. An ensemble as musically gifted as it is unconventional—made up of both "ordinary" people and those living with handicaps.

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What a Fanfare!

A day to remember and treasure: unforgettable smiles and tears of joy marked the encounter between Faith and Light and the Bersaglieri of the 7th Regiment, Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo" of Bari

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A Little Madness . . . to Work Wonders

We met with I SempreVivi, a volunteer association that welcomes people living with mental illness—and perhaps something more. We asked its founder, Don Domenico Storri, to tell us the story.

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The Memory of Beauty

A guided museum program for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers, designed to stimulate memory and emotion through encounters with visual art

Testimonial · Projects

The Chicco at Thirty: "They Gave Us the Answer Our Hearts Were Seeking"

How do you welcome young people with severe mental disabilities into your home and live with them for life?

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The Great House of Peter Pan

Marisa tells us about her experience with the association that welcomes children receiving treatment in the oncology ward of the Bambino Gesù hospital in Rome, together with their families

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In the Heart of Illness, Communion Is Possible

Christine Dupuis witnessed the anguish of people living with mental illness and their families. With others, she founded a home in Belgium for young adults with schizophrenia.

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Two Dark Eyes

I discovered Ombre e Luci only recently, though I have known the Fede e Luce association for many years and share the spirit and founding principles that define its essence

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Ndangwini: A Home Where Family Exists

A family house project in Mozambique that welcomes orphaned children in different ways and at different paces

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Wheelchair Thieves

A group of young musicians with muscular dystrophies refuses self-pity. Instead, they carry with them a fierce determination and a passion that's impossible to ignore.

Testimonial · Projects

Words for Grown-Ups

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Never Alone: From Dream to Promise

A volunteer association helping people with disabilities create appropriate housing and independent living

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Special Olympics in Sibari: Where Everything Is Different from Everything

What emerged was an extraordinary outpouring of emotion that gave birth to new friendships and unexpected feelings

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All But One Got in the Saddle — Scuderia "Le Forne"

A minivan full of friends, young people, and parents from Fede e Luce are heading off to an unforgettable experience on horseback

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Singing Together: Voices of the Soul

Since 2003, the Mental Health Department of Palermo's ASL 6 has run a therapeutic a cappella choir bringing together patients, their families, and volunteers.

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Inheritance and Disabled Children: A Notary's Counsel

We present the following case to Marina Fanfani, a notary in Rome, for her expert opinion

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The Wagon: A House Always Full of People

Francesca tells us what it's like to live with her family in a residential community for disabled adults

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Baby Xitter: Specialized Babysitting for Children with Disabilities

Member families access trained, trustworthy caregivers at standard babysitting rates

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Apadest: A Piedmont Association for Turner Syndrome — and a Beautiful Surprise

Fielding support requests from across Italy, the organization reaches out to couples who receive a prenatal diagnosis of this genetic condition

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A Place Where Life Takes Root

We visited our friend Carlo at the San Giovanni di Dio Institute run by the Fatebenefratelli friars in Genzano, outside Rome

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Carugate: Teaching the Faith Together with Disabled Friends

Faith and Light's innovative approach to welcoming disabled youth in parish programs

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Habitat for Autism: Building Dignity and Community

Giulia de Finis, vice president of Habitat per l'Autismo, shares the association's work, history, and vision for the future

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Dario's House: A Home for Those Left Behind

At Ponte Lambro, the Arcobaleno Association opens a residential community for vulnerable adults

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The Roof: Rome's Oldest Group Home

Founded in 1953, Casa Famiglia "Il Tetto" has sheltered dozens of at-risk children. Sixty years later, former residents still gather on Sundays with their own families.

Testimonial · Projects

A City for the Boys

An urban complex with streets, plazas, residential apartments, and services nestled harmoniously in the countryside just outside Rome. We spoke with Porfirio Grazioli, President of the National Organization for the Cities of the Boys.

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A Little School to Grow

A project designed to help Roma children enter the school system

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The Hearth: A Therapeutic Community for Troubled Teens

How one Roman residential program helps adolescents rebuild their lives—a conversation with psychologist Gabriella D'Intino

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The Sipario Restaurant: Where Nothing Is Given

An association that organizes classes and activities, creates celebrations and opportunities for families and friends of "special" young people to gather and connect

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Saying and Doing: Bridging the Gap

Everyone says some things are nearly impossible, too hard to achieve, pure fantasy. But we discovered it isn't always true. We're talking about school.

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The Power of Art: From Magic to Healing

Marta de Rino, an educator studying art therapy, explains how art can become a therapeutic tool—and why this healing approach is drawing increasing interest.

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Museums for Everyone: The VA.M.I. Difference

Cristina, a volunteer educator at VA.M.I., works at Rome's Galleria Borghese. Years ago, she joined the organization because she believes that everyone—including disabled visitors—deserves access to the vast artistic treasures housed in our museums.

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Alice's Farm: Where Work Becomes Possible

Many parents ask how to create job opportunities for their disabled adult children. I visited a social farm outside Viterbo—Alice's Farm—to find some answers.

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An Act of Joy: Theater in a Roman Parish

How a group of disabled performers brought a play to life

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The Strength of an Oak: Associazione La Quercia Millenaria

What happens when a developing child has a condition incompatible with life? For parents, the question is devastating.

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Casa Betania's New Moon

At Casa Betania, the defense of life is not abstract doctrine but hard practice—marked by fear and suffering, yet alive with love and moments of "perfect joy."

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"Being a Volunteer Beats Being President"

I watched the equestrian and track-and-field competitions at Special Olympics, held at Tor di Quinto

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Special Olympics: No One Left Behind

Giving children and adults with intellectual disabilities the chance to train and compete in a range of Olympic sports year-round

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Work and Disability: The "Controvento" Cooperative

A bold training initiative for young people with intellectual disabilities. Luigi Maria Loy, its founder, tells the story.

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I Want to Help. But Where Do I Start?

Some practical ideas for getting involved—and discovering that making a real difference for those in need is easier than you might think

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Joseph Larsen's White Boat

A vessel built to carry coal has become a shelter for immigrants and the homeless. We met one of its captains.

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The Party's Guest List

In Besançon, France, an association called "Invitati alla Festa" has created a space that combines living, activity, and support for people with psychiatric illness.

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"Iniziativa Amica": A Home Where Motherhood Becomes Joy Again

A house for mothers in crisis whose mission is "to serve and defend life, to foster the values of brotherhood and solidarity, and to overcome every form of discrimination based on race and religion"

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A New Legal Tool: Supported Administration for People with Disabilities

We asked a civil law attorney to explain Law No. 6 of January 9, 2004—legislation designed to protect those who, for any reason, lack the ability to independently manage the ordinary tasks of daily life.

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Guardianship Without Loss of Rights: A Judge Explains Italy's New Support Administration Law

An interview with Paola Grimaldi, Judge of the Guardianship Court in Velletri, on how the new guardianship law protects people with disabilities

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Agriculture and Disability: The Experimental Farm "Splende il Sole"

Why not let young people with disabilities experience rural life and farm work? An idea that became reality at an agricultural enterprise near Latina

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Few Beds, Many Families: "La Nostra Famiglia" and the Burden of Care in the South

"Good done for its own sake"—that was our founder don Luigi Monza's motto. So we have a duty to give something more: not just to bodies, but to hearts.

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Filippide: Running Together from Tibet to the North Pole

An interview with Nicola Pintus: athlete, mentor, and idealist challenging the world of intellectual disability

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Healing Hands: The Volunteer Shiatsu Workers of Rome

The heart of shiatsu is like pure maternal affection; the pressure of the hands sets the springs of life flowing.

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The Farm at Villa d'Almè

We visited "La Cascina," a residential community in Villa d'Almè, on a late August morning—and came away deeply impressed.

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We Did It: Stories of Solidarity We've Reported

A selection of initiatives by parents and people of goodwill that we've learned about and featured in our magazine.

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The Rights of Disabled Persons According to the United Nations

On December 9, 1975, at its 243rd session, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons as a common foundation and framework for the protection of these rights.

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Breaking Out of the Shell: A Woodworking Workshop with a Difference

A carpentry workshop that opens its doors to disabled people for meaningful vocational training

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AAC at the Benedetta D'Intino Center: Augmentative and Alternative Communication

What is AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), and how it works at the Benedetta D'Intino Center

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I'm a Long-Distance Mom

Roberta is deeply proud of her distant adoption of a ten-year-old girl from Tanzania named Jenni Elise, who lives in the village of Kibaoni and attends primary school.

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La Tent: A Home for Children Under Six

A couple's clear conviction: to remain open to the world around them, never retreating into private life but seeing their surroundings as their field of action.

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The Orchard of Forgotten Fruits: Inside Il Muschio

We visit the friends of Il Muschio in Morbegno, who are building something remarkable in the heart of nature

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The Monks of Lanuvio—How Ethical Banking Financed a Dream

When credit means trust. In early 2000, Banca Etica launched a certificate-of-deposit campaign dedicated to the "Monks of Lanuvio" project.

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The Clown's Lesson: Miloud Oukili

A Franco-Algerian street artist who brought his art into Bucharest's underground passages, bringing smiles to abandoned and orphaned children

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The Community "Il Roveto"

Four courageous young women with physical disabilities longed to live together in consecrated life to the Lord. They made it happen.

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Social Cooperatives

We asked an expert to explain what they are, what they do, and how they work

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The Inkwell Project

The "Inkwell Project" is an initiative of the Documentation Center on Disability in Bologna. Founded by Claudio Imprudente in 1986.

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Train Station Support for Disabled Passengers at 179 Stations Nationwide

Ferrovie dello Stato provides welcoming assistance services for people with disabilities

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Why Don't We Understand Each Other?

When serious illness or disability breaks into a person's life and their family's story, the meeting between relatives and doctor becomes a moment heavy with hope, anxiety, destabilizing uncertainty, and often painful truth.

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Casablu: A Home Like Any Other

We visited this remarkable residential community in Rome and spoke with its founder, Luigi Vittorio Berliri, to understand how a small group of friends turned a vision into reality

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Giovanni and Chiara: A Tragedy in the Dark

They were struck without warning by someone emerging from the shadows—a terrible nightmare from which we wish we could wake.

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Cascina Rossago: Building a Home for Young Adults with Autism

Italy's first Farm Community, on twelve hectares in the Oltrepò Pavese, acquired by the Foundation for Parents of Children with Autism

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Free to Live Like Everyone Else: Italy's First National Conference on Disability Policy

Reflections by Cecilia Cattaneo Barbieri, President of the Union of Families with Handicapped Members, who participated in the conference held in Rome in December 1999

Editorial · Projects

If Someone Knocks

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Irene's Home: Inside Casa Maria Grazia

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Opening Your Home: A Practical Guide

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A New Home: OIKOS

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The Arca Vision

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The Chicco

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Tau Community: Our Home

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Designing a Community

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A Way Forward for the Mentally Ill: "Together We Can"

Testimonial · Projects

A Year Gained at the Carro

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Itaca: An Art Workshop for Recovery

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Housing for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

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The Endine Community Home

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Marta and Matthew's Kitchen

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Building a Future for People with Disabilities

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When Parents Roll Up Their Sleeves

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Houses of Charity

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Spazio Aperto: A Cooperative Born from Need

How a Milan-based social solidarity cooperative created meaningful work for people with disabilities

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Perceval: A Place to Live and Learn

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How They Speak Without Words

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Planning an "Olympic Games" Event

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Life in Faith and Light, Issue 26

Open Dialogue · Projects

Open Dialogue No. 27

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Casa del Sole — A Place of Serenity

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Theater with People Who Have Disabilities

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Everyone Moves Better

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How to Throw a Party

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Working Together: An Afternoon Called Workshop

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Embroidery Class: Learning Together, Having Fun

An experiment in teaching needlework to people with disabilities—building skills, community, and joy

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What Is L'Arche?

Editorial · Projects

Group Homes: Dream or Reality?

Testimonial · Projects

Climbing Mount Méta With Them

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And It Was a Real Vacation

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Winter Retreats: Holiday Time with Disabled Participants

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A House for July

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Our Children with Disabilities in School

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From Support to Participation: Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities

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Scuola Viva: Active Inclusion in Action

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Oletta's Gift: How a Horse Becomes Healing

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Twenty Days of Firsts at Marina di Camerota

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Summer 1980 with Fede e Luce: The Joy of Taking a Holiday Together

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Fede e Luce Campout: A Life Adventure Together

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New Law Establishes Companion Allowance for the Totally Disabled

Testimonial · Projects

I Found Work at a Pharmaceutical Company

One woman's journey from special school to employment—a testimony to the power of love and belonging in the Fede e Luce community.

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Friendships

At summer camp, learning to believe in the strength of our friends with greater challenges: Maria Rosaria, Carla, and Giorgio show us what resilience, joy, and kindness look like

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Back from Vacation—Nothing but Camps

Letters from the Heart of Faith and Light: diverse voices tell of summer camps where life alongside people with and without disabilities creates an authentic community of friendship, shared life, and spiritual growth

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Marymount: An Summer of Music and Smiles

A glimpse of life at the American school, where trumpet and guitar, swimming pool and workshops, volunteers and students create moments of genuine joy together

Testimonial · Projects

Brick by Brick

A meditation on friendship and community in L'Arche: from summer camps to the dream of welcoming homes, a shared journey shaped by love for the most vulnerable

Testimonial · Projects

On Holiday, Everything Became a Game

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Raise the Curtain: We're On

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For Their Education: A Visit to the Romagna State School for the Blind

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The Capodarco Community

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A Visit to Club Avance

Every Sunday, Club Avance brings together friends, parents, and their children in a gathering space in downtown Madrid. We went to see it for ourselves.

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A Visit to the Belgian Center for Children with Cerebral Motor Disorders

Last summer, Maria Laura spent time at this remarkable school directed by Dr. Louis Yasse, learning about its students and methods. Here are her observations.

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How the First Fede e Luce "Little House" Was Born: Paintbrushes and Appendicitis

Two firsthand accounts of the behind-the-scenes story of this extraordinary adventure

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A Thousand Meals a Day at Terra Gaia

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Children and Autism: A Mosaic of Peace

Testimonial · Projects

Paola Came to Live With Us — Comunità Nicodemo

The everyday life of a family working hard to find its own way each day, but choosing to open itself to dialogue with other families—and discovering that from sharing and nearness come new energy and possibilities for everyone, young and old alike.

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On Top of the World Without Taking a Step