The population of disabled people includes wheelchair users, blind people and deaf people who are an important minority of the total,but the majority of disabled people have other (often less visible) impairments. Although older people are more likely to be disabled than younger people, trends show an increasing number of children reported as having complex needs, Autistic Spectrum disorders or mental health issues.Disabled people are doing less well than non-disabled people across a wide range of indicators and opportunities.The disadvantage faced by disabled people imposes significant economic and social costs on disabled people, on their families and friends, on the wider community and on the economy. Instead of being empowered to participate and be included, too many disabled people are left to depend on benefits and government support..There are people suffering from handicap everywhere in the world.In the past there were many difficulties connected with the wrong use of the word handicap. Now we have different associations supporting these different groups.About integration at school the number of the disabled has become wider and wider from 10,000 to 34,000 integrated in different schools. Eugenia,Laura,Yulia,

DISABLED PEOPLEDISABLED PEOPLE

Last century, during the second world war, a program of “ EUTHANASIA” was created against disabled children forced to live segregated in concentration camps. Such a plan was linked up to Nazi politics, where people of different culture are deprived of their personality, culture and ideology, above all disabled who were regarded as “ USELESS TO SOCIETY”. Consequently several extermination schools were born where firstly a lot of lethal injections were used to kill disabled children, like “ MORPHINE” and “ SCOPOLAMINA”, but there was a faster method to make this extermination quicker, that is, the use of gas. Many experiments were taken out in clinics. The Euthanasia in this field continued up to the end of the war, with the operation “14 F13”, and in the clinics where continued the elimination of the disabled children through “ THE WILD EUTHANASIA”, or rather the elimination of the sick without any authorization. On october 8, 1935 was emanated a second “LAW FOR THE SAFEGUARD OF THE HEREDITARY HEALTH OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE”. With it the abortion was authorized in the case in which one of the parents was affected from hereditary illness. For this reason a law that authorized the forced sterilization of the people held bearers of hereditary illness was emanated. To support such a law some propagandas were shown through films, in schools and public places. The sanitary direction of the “THIRD REICH” crested in Germany 500 “CENTRES OF CONSULTATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE GENETIC PATRIMONY AND RACE”. The physicians that directed them picked up information to decide who had to be sterilized and to control the births of the physically, mentally, disabled babies.

Alessia, Simona

THE DISABLED IN THE PASTTHE DISABLED IN THE PAST

In Italy

There are about 2 million 824 thousand disabled people in our country: 900 thousand are men and 1 million 864 thousand are women.It’s pointing out that 2 million 92 thousand disabled are over 64. The percentage of disabilities were shown during the school period, when mental disabilities are highlighted during school activities.About 60 thousand of people under 65 are confined to wheelchairs.Families are the main help to disabled people.In 15% of Italian families there are disabled people.28 % of the disabled live alone against 8 % of non-disabled, and the majority of them are elderly.26 % of them are married68 % of disabled are unhappy with the difficulties in making friends. 4.85 % are between six and more, and they live in a family.The 17% are more than 60 years of age; the 37.7 % are 75 years old; 620.000 of these people are under 60; 188.000 of them are 14.

There are four different typologies of disabilities:

Permanently forced to stay in wheelchairs or in bed; Uneasy on getting dressed, on washing her/his body, on eating; Disability on moving: for them it’s difficult to walk, to go up the stairs; Sensorial disability: they can’t hear perfectly well. Alessia, Anna lisa, Francesca, Giorgia, Ilaria, Jessica

Disabilità per fasce d'età

0

200.000

400.000

600.000

800.000

1.000.000

1.200.000

Sui 14 Meno di60

Ol t r e i60

Sui 75

Età in anni

Num

ero

di c

asi

Prevalenza disabilità per sesso

840.000

850.000

860.000

870.000

880.000

890.000

900.000

910.000

Maschi Femmine

Num

ero

casi

“ It’s difficult to realise if a person is mentally or physically disabled “

There are four kinds of There are four kinds of DISABILITYDISABILITY ::

• disability in moving• individual confined life• disabilities in everyday living (difficulties to dress, to wash, to eat)• sensorial disabilities

EDUCATION:EDUCATION:Nowadays education is getting better and better: in fact, 38 % of the disabled between 15 and 44 years have got diplomas or degrees, but 14 % between 45 and 64 years haven't got them.

JOB:JOB:Today the number of disabled without a job is high. In fact only 21 % are employed.

FAMILY:FAMILY:28 % of the disabled live alone and 26 % until 44 years live in the family. It is fundamental for them.

SOCIALSOCIAL LIFE:LIFE:It's difficult to participate in a social life because the disabled have a lot of problems which are due to their disabilities and to the environmental and cultural context.

SPORT:SPORT:26 % of the disabled play sport activities and 60 % of them is between 6 and 44 years. Chiara, Francesca, Ilaria

Tipo e prevalenza di disabilità

1,10%

2,10%

2,20%

3,00%

sensorial disability

individual confined life

disability of movements

disability of functions

SOCIAL LIFE

The social participation of the disabled people constitutes the greatest and the more difficult challange to face, because in it they add problems originated not only from the condition of the individual's disability, but above all and mainly from the environmental and cultural context.The information contained in the area in examination concern the social activities and the participation activities to associations, political parties and religious activities, the recourse to the services of public utility, the activities of leisure time, sporting activities, making friends and relationships with members of the family.

INFORMATION

Around 18 % of disabled people under 44 years read newspapers every day and 20% of the non- disabled people of the same age.67 % of the disabled between 18 and 44 years listen to the radio and 92 % watch TV programs every day, 79 % and 97 % of non-disabled. 38 % of the disabled are informed about the Italian politics against 53 % among non-disabled.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

22 % of the disabled under 44 years go to the cinema, to the theatre or to TV shows, in opposition of 31% of non-disabled. 20 % of the disabled read books.

SPORTING ACTIVITIES

26 % of the disabled people practise a sporting activity and 60 % of these are between six and forty-four years.The main reason for the sporting practice up to 64 years is for relaxation and then even therapeutic.The number of the disabled people enrolled to the Federation Disabled Sport has increased in the period 1989-1997, also the sporting societies, in average of around 5,3 points percent.The quality of the services offered by the sporting societies has improved: in fact, it is passed by an average of six operators for sporting society in 1989 to an average of fourteen operators in 1997.

FRANCESCA, ILARIA, JESSICA

WHAT I S THE GREATEST PROBLEM FOR THE DI SABLED ?

TO FI GHT AGAINST SOCI ETY !

ALL WHEELS AROUND THI S !!

For many years political institutions have undertaken to enact laws about disabled people. The most recent European law, dated 15th December 2005, forbids every discrimination towards disabled people travelling by aeroplane. The great majority of the European Parliament was in favour of this law that passed with 506 votes in favour, 6 against and an abstention. This law is applied in the whole European Community. On the national field there is the general policy law of 5th February 1992, for assistence, social integration and disabled’s rights. This law was modified with the law ‘8th March 2000’ and with the legislative decree ‘26th March 2001’. On 9th July 2003, the Council of Ministers enacted a legislative decree that established a general summary of parity of treatment about occupation and working conditions. On 9th January 2004 the Italian Parliament approved a law that supports the access of disabled at computers. The oldest regional law of Lazio, a region in Central Italy,dates back to 19th September 1974 and deals with the development of precautionary and rehabilitation measures for disabled. This law was emended with the regional law of 9th June 1975. On 22nd January 1977 was passed the bill of refunding of the regional law of 19th September 1974. The accessibility at public transports for the disabled is guaranteed by the law approved on the 22nd of February 1985. The most recent regional law for disabled is dated 3rd November 2003 and concerns the institution of a council for disabled’s problems. Enrico, Martina

Laws helping Laws helping disabled peopledisabled people

• DIURNAL CENTRES FOR REHABILITATION: sanitary structure for a maximum of 25 people. The centres offer: meals, daily activities, therapies, social activities, sanitary services, skilled staff for home sanitary requests.

• RESIDENTIAL CENTRES: sanitary structure for a maximum of 20 people, school compulsory education is offered to the young disabled. The centres offer: diurnal and nocturnal guardian attendance, meals, daily activities, socialization activities, therapies, sanitary performances, skilled staff for home sanitary requests.

• COMMUNITIES: residential charitable structures for 12 adolescents or 6 children. A community offers: day and night attendance, meals, education, jobs, social activities.

Cristina, Martina, Ramona

FACILITIESFACILITIES

FOR DISABLED PEOPLEFOR DISABLED PEOPLE

A lot of people with physical disabilities are still discriminated. This can be due to the stairs or the width of a door preventing them to socialize in an easy way.The architectural barriers can be presented by architectural elements ( a parking lot, doors, stairs, corridors ), objects ( sinks, closets, toilets ), lack of some signs or elements made of slippery material that can cause accidents.In our Italian cities many architectural barriers are still present despite the laws that impose their elimination, which is a right of the citizen, enacted by the Constitution.In the law appointed in 1989 three conditions were introduced: accessibility, adaptability, possibility to enter any building. However there are many buildings which have to be adapted according to the new law.Because of this three million Italians are still ‘secluded’.According to the statistics around 20% of the population belonging to the European Union is conditioned by the limitation created by the presence of architectural barriers.These analysis refer to the people with permanent physical handicaps but even to elderly with various difficulties. Yulia

Architectural barriers Architectural barriers for the disabledfor the disabled

Many disabled people are still discriminated because of architectural barriers. They can be represented for example by parking areas, doors, stairs or washbasins and toilets.In Italy there are still a lot of architectural barriers, despite of the appointed laws in favour of the disabled. The article 27 provides for:

New buildings which must be without architectural barriers; the disabled have to be allowed to stay everywhere. To permit the disabled the best access in public and private buildings, the law says that:

accesses have to be at least 1 metre 50 centimetres wide; steps: max 6 centimetres with anti-slide plans; doors: at least 85 centimetres wide and handles 90 centimetres high; lifts: all the buildings with more than one floor need a lift; sporting centres and bathing establishments must respect the law for the disabled; ramps must allow the passage of wheelchairs.

The law 13/89 shows that the disabled have to have economic contributions and they have to have the right to reach a building and to use spaces in safety and autonomy.

Alessandra, Luisa

...Each person has the right to be educated. The aim is the full development of human personality and sense of dignity, reinforcing the human rights and fundamental freedom.Primary education has to be compulsory and free for everybody. Thanks to the laws appointed in the 70s Italy has been depicted as a a vanguard world country in the specific area. The law named 104/92 guarantees the presence of disabled people at any kind of school: from primary to university. The article 13 requires the local government to adopt nursery schools according to the disabled children’s needs, providing skilled assistance. The law named 270/82 establishes in 30 children the highest number and in 13 children the lowest number in a class. The number is even reduced with the presence of disabled children (maximum 20, minimum 10). Articles n° 2 and 13 of the law named 517/77 provide the whole development of personality, in particular of disabled people, offering the assistance of a skilled teacher. Furthermore they are given free transport from their own house to school and vice versa. The entry to school is favoured by the elimination of architectural barriers which limit attendance.

Valentina, Francesca, Denise, Serena

The rights The rights of the disabled at school:of the disabled at school:

Fausto is 27 years old and has tought in Alessandro Manzoni High School under the assistance of a proper tutor in the Social Study Course.Even though Fausto is disabled, with accurate studies he is now able to teach and give his personal opinions as if he were an ordinary guy.In the Nursery School his mates learnt to understand and to know his difficulties. In Primary and Secondary School he was strongly helped but even mocked by some. We know this is a very important time for all, especially for those with difficulties, remaining touched for ever.In Higher Education he had the opportunity to develop with all his individual characteristics. Finally he got his degree with the maximum grade.

Amelia, Ilenia, Piera, Veronica,

a way to feel free

• Olympic Games for disabled have been created for people who have phisical problems and they occur every 4 years.

• The first person who thought of Paralympics was Ludwig Guttam in a British hospital .• The first Paralympics were in 1996 and 120 countries participated with a number of 35000

athletes. In the past the disabled used to be divided into categories according to their ability (blind, one-legged or one-armed people, people sitting in wheel-chairs).

• All athletes involved in fencing normally practise their sport directly from their wheel-chairs. There are official sports which belong to Paralympics: basketball, cycling, horse-riding, swimming, football, volleyball, etc.

• Winter Paralympics were inaugurated in 1976 and these Olympic Games involve Alpine and northern ski hockey and toboggan. The modern technology has highly increased the number of the accessible sports.

• In Italy there is an association called FISD (Italian Federation Disabled Sport) that is an official company representing these activities.

• The disabled can find some difficulties also in the development of easier activities and Olympic Games offer the best opportunity to overcome their difficulties participating actively in the different sports.

Corina, Elisabetta, Ilaria,

ParalympicsParalympics