LIVING THE VALUES OF AN ASSOCIATION

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