«A model that focuses on the centrality of the person through an integrated network of services and an innovative approach that can also take an example for other territories. A new hope, that is, to recompose the health theme with the social one, because in the middle there is a person with his rights and with his life that must be guaranteed to the maximum of dignity “. So the minister for disability Alessandra Locatelli spoke of the reform on disability during a meeting at the Calabria regional citadel wanted as an opportunity for listening and comparison with the Calabrian association world with the aim of collecting instances, proposals and reflections directly from the territory.
The reform, which provides for a unitary charge of the person with disabilities and the activation of personalized projects, among other things, is in the experimentation phase in Catanzaro. «Here – added the minister – a great job is also being done with the commissioner Capponi. In fact, we also came to talk to the associations, with the world of the third sector and I believe that the road is the right one. For this I would like Calabria to become the first region to totally experience the reform. We will work in this direction so that starting from January 2026 the other Calabrian provinces can continue with the experimentation ».
Responding to the questions of journalists on the gap between north and south Alessandra Locatelli said he believed that “there is a huge potential in the world of the third sector, which is working very well throughout Italy. There are certainly critical issues in some regions, but I am convinced that we are working to ensure that these critical issues can be overcome ».
The apartment took part in the Councilor for Social Policies Caterina Capponi and the President of the Regional Council of Calabria and Regional Commissioner of the Lega Filippo Mancuso who before starting the works, addressing those present, asked “a minute of recollection for the tragic loss of Emanuele Scafidi and little Giorgia”, father and daughter who died on Sunday evening in a road accident in Catanzaro.
“On the themes of disability and social inclusion – the Prime Minister then underlined – he is doing so much in Italy and in Calabria, but it is never enough. The work and commitment of Minister Locatelli and the enormous contribution he is making on these delicate issues is never praised. The regional council has established the Guarantor of disability for the first time in Calabria and an observatory on autism, demonstrating the great attention that we put on these subjects. The commitment of everyone, of the Region and the Government, to try to also give Calabria greater possibilities of inclusion “.
Then the councilor Caterina Capponi took the floor: “It is with a profound sense of responsibility and participation that today we find ourselves together for a moment of confrontation and listening dedicated to one of the most noble and urgent challenges of our time: to guarantee dignity, equity and inclusion to people with disabilities”.
The councilor focused attention on the fundamental points that together with Minister Locatelli touched themselves during the meeting with the associations and professionals of the third sector. He thanked the minister for his presence, “tangible sign of attention and concrete commitment by the national government to these issues”, the prefect of Catanzaro, Castrese De Rosa, and the senator, Tilde MinaSi. “A special thanks – continued the commissioner – goes to the associations that operate tirelessly in the area. Today the synergy between the state, region and territorial realities is tangible: the key to building policies that are not only declarations, but tools of daily life. As councilor for social policies, I would like to emphasize that inclusion cannot be only a goal, but a practice that is not made only with the laws, but with the recognition of the person”.
He continued remembering how the Calabria Region has started important reform paths, investing not only in structures and services, but also in culture, training and participation.
“Today we dedicate space to listening, because it is only through dialogue with those who live daily the realities of the disability that we can outline effective policies. You are the beating heart of social innovation. In this region, every person with disabilities is not seen as a bearer of limits, but as seed of possibilities. I met parents who, day after day, transform the challenges into alliance. This is the most true form of inclusion? We build together a more just, more inclusive and more aware Calabria, we owe it to people with disabilities, to their families and all those who believe in the strength of the community.
The disability – underlined councilor Capponi – is it really a limit or is it the lens that allows us to see the world with more humanity? As institutions, we have a duty to ask ourselves this question every day. And to act accordingly. Inclusion is a path that we travel together, every day, with courage and respect. And from today, we will travel this path with even more determination, together with associations, families, citizens “.