LIVING THE VALUES OF AN ASSOCIATION
- tobiasarndt9
- Jun 7
- 2 min read
I remember when, just about 30 years ago, in an anonymous Italian Courtroom, after a series of meetings with psychologists, doctors and judges, it was confirmed that a newborn with some form of disability would have been "assigned" to our family, which already included another adoptive child from Brazil.
Happiness and a sense of temporary disorientation overwhelmed us, as we wondered whether we would be able to cope with an adoption classified as "complex" and which had come upon us so suddenly. Luckily, before whishing us a "good journey", the judge informed us of the existence of an Association, Raggiungere www.raggiungere.it, composed of families with children born with limb difference or deficiency.
We immediately got in touch with Claudio B., a valued treasurer and one of the Association's founders (and our friend now). He introduced us first to individual families already experiencing similar conditions to ours, and then to the Association itself, which I had then the honour to lead as Chairman for 10 years.
After me, other Chairmen followed (thanks Sandro, good luck Carlo!), the children grew, our family expanded with the arrival of a biological son, and the relationship with Raggiungere remained
unchanged giving us the possibility to share the celebration of its 40th anniversary last weekend (hosted by the "Società Canottieri di Salò" at Garda lake).
Beautiful moments sharing experiences and emotions, meeting old friends, Paralympic champions, and discovering new realities.
With Raggiungere, in my current role as head of DysNet-Dysmelia Network at EU level, we're building bridges to new realities, working concretely on many topics with the sole aim of improving independent living of people with disabilities (last but not least the event we organized last March at Regione Lombardia i.r.o. Biorobotics to support disabled people).
With the awareness that a world which adequately considers persons with disabilities is a better world for everyone.
Claudio Pirola - Chairman of DysNet-Dysmelia Network
The judge informing you about the Association before the adoption even started really stuck with me — that kind of support network at the very beginning must have made all the difference in those first overwhelming days. It's amazing to see how Raggiungere has grown and stayed connected for 40 years, with families like yours still building bridges across Europe. — Iron Nest Guide roadmap page
Thirty years ago, that mix of happiness and disorientation must have felt overwhelming—but it’s exactly that leap into the unknown that defines living your values. I’ve been using a similar framework for navigating complex decisions, and it’s helped me stay grounded. https://glbviewer.com
That moment of “temporary disorientation” really resonates—it’s the honest flip side of the joy, and it’s what makes your story so human. Thirty years later, you’re clearly living those values every day, not just preaching them. I’ve been following a similar journey with https://deepfacelab.pro
That courtroom moment 30 years ago must have felt like standing at the edge of a cliff—terrifying and exhilarating at once. Your honesty about that "temporary disorientation" really captures how love and doubt can coexist in complex adoptions. I've been using a similar reflection framework with my own family's journey, and it's helped me name those https://rodinai.net
That courtroom moment must have felt like standing at the edge of a cliff, but your leap of faith clearly shaped a life of purpose. The "temporary disorientation" you describe is exactly what so many of us feel before we find our footing in complex care. I've been using a similar resource that helped me map out those early unknowns. https://veovideoai.com