This book matters not only for what it says, but for the reality behind it: scouting in Italy is the youth organization with the greatest reach and momentum; in 53 percent of scout troops, there are young people with mental disabilities (62 percent), physical disabilities (21 percent), or mobility disabilities (17 percent).
Part of the book covers general ground: it explains the various disabilities in plain language, includes a short glossary of terms, and lists relevant associations. It's useful for anyone seeking a first grasp of the subject.
The most useful and original sections examine why the scout method seems almost designed for the genuine inclusion of handicapped youth, and catalog the practical problems that arise from inclusion in scout units alongside actual solutions drawn from real experience.
The educational method of scouting's founder, Baden-Powell, proves its universal value precisely when applied to the challenges facing struggling young people. Channeling a youth's energy rather than suppressing it; listening to their desires and using them as a starting point for direction rather than opposition; prioritizing hands-on activity over talk and theory; asking each person to "do their best," as stated in the Scout Promise; charting a personal path for each young person that finds precise expression in the various scout skills; developing all facets of the person; showing trust in the young person; emphasizing the group, working together, serving others, and collective achievement over individual glory—these are all essential to the scout method. They are also the very educational elements needed for young people facing difficulties to grow.
In practice, of course, including handicapped youth in scouting brings challenges and raises problems. But they are fundamentally the same difficulties that arise in any genuine application of the scout method.
I believe that even parents unfamiliar with scouting will, after reading Roberto Lorenzini's chapter (Why It Works) and Anna Contardi's chapter (Educational Practices and Organizational Approaches), do everything they can to enroll their son or daughter in a scout troop—within, of course, the limits set by the nature and severity of the handicap.
- review by S.S., 1987