In 1978, Italy shut down its asylums for good and emptied the schools labeled "special." Forty years later, the lives of people with disabilities have undeniably improved—at least on paper, with more civil rights and legal protections in place. Yet research by Merlo and Tarantino, conducted in collaboration with FISH, reveals a troubling reality: hidden asylums persist, masquerading as residential care facilities and nursing homes, where the rights and dignity of residents matter least of all. Direct testimony and rigorous investigation paint a sobering picture. It becomes clear that new decrees and increased public funding alone cannot protect the dignity of people with disabilities. What is needed instead is a return to genuine care rooted in conscience and responsibility—rejecting the cold "medical model" that treats disability as a problem to be solved rather than a human reality to be understood and honored.
Purchase this book through the Helpfreely network.
If you are a member, a portion of your purchase will be donated to Fede e Luce. (Learn more)
Find it here: