Before it even begins, at the G7 Inclusion and Disability – in Umbria from 14 to 16 October – we must recognize the merit of turning the spotlight on a topic, that of disability, which is talked about too little. As if people with disabilities were “second-class” citizens. Christian family on newsstands he dedicates an extensive report to the topic, taking stock of the social condition and rights of people with disabilities. With Don Virginio Colmegna, a life dedicated to others and currently president of the Son Foundation (which in English means son, but is also the acronym for “Hope beyond us”), we now try to understand what the state of well-being of 5 million of Italians with disabilities.
Colmegna, how do you evaluate the living conditions of people with disabilities?
«Full of worries. Contemporary culture tends to promote a process of inclusion that presupposes a “society of normals” in which to integrate people with disabilities, instead of adopting a cultural break that recognizes universality as a fundamental principle.”
Do specific needs stand out among people with disabilities compared to people without?
«People with disabilities certainly pose specific needs, but they should not be considered a separate category. Their condition brings richness within the complexity of rights and relationships and for this reason it is essential to overcome the idea that they must be isolated in an institutional logic based on their characteristics. On the contrary, they represent a precious resource. All inclusion interventions in the world of work, in prevention, in care, in school and in the recognition of rights must not be seen as simple welfare acts, but as moments in which values of equality emerge that enrich the entire society.”
Regarding spiritual life, are there still any prejudices or misunderstandings to overcome?
“Yes. Pietism and welfarism, often considered signs of goodness, must be transformed into concrete cultural interventions, oriented towards the awareness and belief that excluding people with disabilities, or planning forms of separation or institutionalisation, weakens territorial communities. The presence of people with disabilities must then be considered an asset capable of nourishing relationships and a sense of belonging. This is not an ideological thought, but is precisely a spiritual point of view: disability is a great resource, especially in relation to the evangelical message which, through numerous episodes of healing, reminds us of the importance of reintegrating people into the community. The Christian community must open its doors not with a purely charitable approach, but with a logic of equal dignity and valorization of disability as a resource for the community itself.”
What are the “hidden gifts” that people with disabilities can possess?
«The true hidden gift, like the one described in the Bible and the Gospel, is “bringing these people to light”, otherwise we risk falling into the logic of separation and exclusion. And precisely “bringing to light” gives us the possibility of rediscovering that culture of conviviality and emotional relationships that communities, starting with Christian ones, have a great need of. Families who welcome people with disabilities are the antidote to what Pope Francis calls a “pseudoculture of death”, which spreads through indifference towards life, in all its phases.”
You created the Son Foundation, a possibility of autonomous life inspired by the “After us” law of 2016. What does “After us” mean in your experience?
«In my experience, a continuous process that aims to build a more just society. “After us” means constantly rebuilding, through a welcoming practice that neither rejects nor isolates people, but promotes solidarity. This issue brings with it a great need for brotherhood and unity, especially within families. However, there is a risk that “After us” becomes a bureaucratic aspect, accessible only to those who already have resources to allocate to the future. Instead, we must also think about those who do not have large resources and who have spent a lifetime in the relationship with their child with disabilities. The “After Us” experiences ask us to put fundamental issues such as housing at the center, in a different logic from that of institutionalized “barracks”. Unfortunately, there is still a big delay in this area, and it is mainly a cultural delay that we need to catch up on.”
What is your appeal in view of the G7?
«Bringing the issue of rights, dignity and inclusion of people with disabilities back to the center of reflection. This must be seen as a work of broadening solidarity, to promote the equality and dignity of people with disabilities as an extraordinary wealth, particularly relevant in a context of increasing migratory flow. The hospitality category is crucial, as wars will leave behind dramatically large numbers of people with disabilities. Furthermore, artificial intelligence, also used in the context of war and armaments, risks contributing to a culture that creates impairments, further weakening community life. On the contrary, investing in people with disabilities and fighting welfare means reaffirming the cultural and social dignity of everyone. There must be a shared will to promote brotherhood and unity, where technological society must deal with a new humanism, which puts the human being and his diversity at the centre.”
