A group of parents whose adolescent and adult children are on the autism spectrum founded L'emozione non ha voce onlus in Rome. For Fabio Bernardini, a parent and the organization's director of marketing and communications, "Nothing can happen if we stay locked away and isolated within 'my' family, 'my' school, or in one hour of social activity. If these young people lack social intelligence, then they need to be treated with lots of socialization". Through highly diversified, structured projects designed as potential work and income opportunities, the organization is trying to fill the void that exists around young people with autism once they leave school.
Now in its second year, the Cantiere project guides young people into construction and renovation work. They become laborers, masons, carpenters, painters—collaborating on a shared project. Everything is done safely, with proper equipment and qualified staff.
The Cavallo impegna project engages participants in animal care, training them as riders and potential stable hands, preparing them for the next edition of "Cavalcando l'autismo 2014"—a week of horseback trekking with eleven autistic riders traveling from Umbria to Tuscany, following a journey that began in Lazio in 2013.
Through the fundraising campaign Diamo una Forma alla Solidarietà, participants handle packaging, manage warehouse operations, process orders, collect contacts, and deliver DOP mountain Parmigiano-Reggiano in vacuum-sealed packages. It operates on a minimum donation of €10 per month for at least six months, allowing the dairy to plan quantities carefully and avoid waste.
Beyond employment, but vital for physical and mental health, comes the Rugby project. Its principles—fair play and respect for opponents, teamwork, determination, and the willingness to push through difficulty—are deeply beneficial for autistic young people seeking autonomy and peace of mind in their future adult lives.
The organization rejects charity. "We want to put families front and center, pushing them to create value and work for their children, never abandoning the vision of a different future". Behind and beneath everything is a larger dream: a highly specialized facility for autism treatment. A residential and day center partially funded by public money—now notoriously unreliable—that sustains itself through its own income-generating capacity: a restaurant, sports complex, cultural and agricultural programs, artisanal workshops, all ecologically sound and sustainable. A place where young people become integral parts of a real enterprise. The site has already been identified in northern Rome.
Learn more at lemozionenonhavoce.org
by Cristina Tersigni