I'm a young woman from Rome. I'm part of Faith and Light, and I'm a scout. Having encountered these two very different worlds, and having had disabled young people in my group—first as Cub Scouts, later in my troop—I've often wondered what connection might exist between the scout method and the world of disability.
I believe deeply in scouting. It has been, and remains, a crucial moment of growth for me. I'm convinced it can be a real tool for development for everyone. Baden Powell probably didn't have our young people in mind when he invented this method, but the many positive experiences of inclusion in various scout units persuade me that it can be easily adapted to individual situations. In most cases, it bears real fruit.
That said, there are failures and disappointments. These often stem from poor communication with families, or from a shortage of leaders in many groups. Sometimes they come from an inability to handle a more delicate situation—one that demands particular attention and a sensitivity different from the somewhat rough edge of the scout world.
There is above all the difficult question of what comes "after the troop": whether young people can join the leadership corps—the community of educators—or whether their journey necessarily ends when the educational program ends for them, around ages twenty-three or twenty-four. This is a theme that deserves closer examination. Scout organizations are giving it increasing attention, asking hard questions, pursuing shared goals, and working to make their groups as welcoming as possible. All of this springs from a genuine conviction that the scout method can be an opportunity for real inclusion, a school of independence, and a way for everyone to grow while having fun.
Benedetta, 2009