Information on the following below: 

Disabled Travel & Transport in Italy

Trains

• More information can be found on their website: Click here 
• A national helpline is available on subscription to disabled passengers
  Tel: 199 303 060

Italian international airports

The European Parliament passed a regulation that will facilitate air flights for people with reduced mobility. This should be put into practice in 2008. The regulations establish that people with reduced mobility should have free, special assistance when needed in airplanes, airports, baggage check in and with flight connections.

Responsibility has been passed to the airports to accommodate the needs of the disabled traveller. Air companies will still be at liberty to provide services to people with reduced mobility.

In all major Italian airports there is a special service providing assistance to disabled people: wheelchair service, assistance during boarding and landing. 

Each airline company has its own internal procedures, describing the type of disability they may accept as well as the specific services offered on board and on ground. The disabled passenger should always notify the company about their specific needs when booking the ticket. It is also important to be present at the check-in desk at least one and a half hours before boarding. Wheelchair transport is free.

Bus travel

The website bus.it (in Italian) provides information on companies renting buses adapted to disabled people, by region. 

• Click here and then on the link to Trasporto Disabili

Boats and ferries

The boat companies operating between the continent and the Italian islands have made most of their boats accessible to disabled people. It is necessary to specify the type of disability when booking the ticket in order to get appropriate assistance when going on board. 

Among the companies offering special assistance for disabled are:

• Corsica Ferriesi
  At: Via Angelo Brunetti 25/D, Rome
  Tel: 06 3222469
• Ferrovie dello Stato, Divisione Navigazione Trasporto Passeggeri
  At: Molo Vespucci, 00053 Civitavecchia (RM)
  Tel: 0906 786478

Cars and motorways

The accessibility of Italian motorway service areas, restaurants, bathrooms and various amenities to disabled people is under development. On the national and provincial roads, this accessibility varies according to the area.

• For more information contact the Associazione Centro Documentazione Handicap
  Tel: 800 018 537
  Website
  e-mail

Parking

Cars parking in disabled parking spaces must display the blue disabled parking card or a European Community blue badge. Contact the local town hall for information on obtaining a blue badge. 

The blue badge is a standardised European Community disabled person's parking permit which provides parking entitlements to badge holders in all complying European countries - a blue badge from one country is valid in another. A person coming to Italy from another EU country may find it easier to apply in their home country for this universal badge which allows the use of reserved parking.

Things to keep in mind:

• Disabled spaces in car parks reserved for disabled people are marked with a yellow line and a wheelchair symbol; parking is generally free in these spots, check with the parking attendant
• Do not park in a space marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number
• In an emergency and if not causing an obstruction, disabled parking is allowed on roads where parking is normally prohibited
• Do not park in pedestrian zones or ZTL (restricted traffic area) unless local law specifies it is allowed
• Disabled drivers may park without time restrictions on roads with parking time limits
• Full details can be found at the ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport) website: Click here

Drivers with a blue badge from another European country may display this translation beside a badge written in another language (text from the UK Automobile Association):

Disabled travel and transport in Lombardy

The following transport companies have a fleet of buses specifically designed to accommodate the disabled.

• Autoservizi Locatelli
  At: Via Furietti 17, 24126 Bergamo (BG)
  Tel: 035 319 366
  Fax: 035 320 303
  e-mail
  Website
• Linee Lecco
  At: Piazza Bione 15, 23900 Lecco (LC)
  Tel: 0341 359 911
  Fax: 0341 359 999
  e-mail
  Website
• Perletti
  At: Via 24, 24064 Grumello Del Monte (BG)
  Tel: 035 832 700
  Fax: 035 442 0529
• Zani Viaggi
  At: Foro Buonaparte 76, 20121 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 867 131
  Fax: 02 804 190
  Website

Tourism for the Disabled in Lombardy

Milanopertutti is a tourism and leisure web portal for the disabled in Milan. It provides information on:

• accessibility in Milan
• visiting Milan including itineraries for disabled visitors
• transports
• links to other useful sites
• To visit the Milano Per Tutti website: Click here

General Information & Useful links

• Azienda Sociale Locale (ASL): Any person wishing to have their disability recognised in Italy should refer to the local ASL (Rome is divided into 4 ASL). Social invalidity benefits will only be delivered to people holding not just a residence permit but an Italian residence card, which is usually allocated after six years spent in the country. The same will be relevant to families wishing to apply for benefits for a handicapped child.
• Conzortio Sociale (COIN): The focus of the COIN is the social and economic integration of disabled people. 
  • General information can be found on their website: Click here (in Italian)  
    Tel: 800 810 810.
• Superabile: A website for disabled people, updated daily, provides useful information and tips on relevant laws, health issues, sport, hobbies and work. 
  • Information is provided through a call centre
    Tel: 800 810 810
    Superabile website (in Italian) 
• Handylex: This is a useful national database containing news from the official paper Gazzetta Ufficiale and legal information relating to disabled people. 
• Cooperative ProgettAzione is a social project aiming to facilitate the integration of people who are having problems through actions of prevention and training.
  • At: Via Piave 2/a, 24026 Ponte San Pietro (BG)
    Tel: 0356 14928
    Website
• Disabili: An online journal and news magazine for disabled, this website is dedicated to handicapped people and provides information, chats, exchanges and discussion forums on various matters (information provided in Italian language).
• The Assistive Technology Research and Information Service (SIVA): Provides medical, social and vocational rehabilitation to people with a physical, mental or sensorial handicap. SIVA is developing a nationwide information system on assistive technology. 
  • Tel: 0240 308340
    Website

Information regarding work

• The website of the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs (Ministerio del Lavoro e delle Politiche Sociali) provides information on work policies, general social affairs and has a section on disability with relevant information. 
  • Click here (in Italian)
    Tel: 800 196 196
• Handimpresa: Organisation based in Milan, aims to make it easier for disabled people to get jobs. Their website (in Italian) has useful links to help people find a job or a training session.
  • Tel: 0245 82173
    Website
    e-mail
• Foundation Don Gnocchi: A non-profit board providing care, rehabilitation and social integration for people in difficulty. Amongst its various missions the Foundation provides training for disabled people in IT, Internet, retail, catering and artisan trades. 
  • Website in English

Hobbies, sport and holidays

• On the initiative of the General Tourist Board (Direzione Generale per il Turismo del Ministero delle Attività Produttive), an online service, Italia per Tutti, has been created, which enables users to search and select a list of tourist sites in Italy with information on allergies, reduced mobility, wheelchairs and access for blind, deaf or elderly people. The website has a list of hotels, restaurants, bars and monuments and is available in English and German.
  • Website
• The tour operator Mondopossibile, member of the SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality) deals exclusively with travel and holidays for disabled people. 
  • Website (in Italian)
    e-mail
• Sportabili is a non-profit organisation aiming to create contacts and links between disabled people and the rest of the community. The services proposed include skiing, cross-country skiing, hand-biking, rafting, hydrospeed and tennis with special guides for blind people. 

  • Tel: 0462 501999
    Website (in Italian)
    e-mail

• Disabilincorsa offers several possibilities for disabled people to practice sport; running, cycling, ice-skating, horse-riding, mountains walks and sailing.
  • Tel: 0347 3845121
    Website (in Italian)
• Centro Internazionale del Libro Parlato produces registered books, in Italian, for blind people.
  • Tel: 0439 880425
    Website (in Italian)
    e-mail
• The Italian Library for the Blind (Biblioteca Italiana per i Ciechi) has a website with an exhaustive list of libraries available for blind people in Italy.
  • Website
• In Rome, documents for blind people can be found at the Bibliteca Nazionale Centrale
  • At: Viale Castro Pretorio 105, 00185 Rome
    Tel: 06 44701871

• Calibre Audio Books: UK charity, Calibre, supplies audio books in English on cassette or disk to visually impaired and disabled people. The free service is available to members (registration can be made via the website). Free postal service is available to anywhere in Europe. 

  • Calibre
    Tel: + 44 1296 432339
    Fax: + 44 1296 392599
    Website
    e-mail 

Sporting associations for the disabled in Milan

The Regione Lombardia website (in Italian) lists sporting associations for people with disabilities in the region. Sports include horse riding, golf and hockey. 

The Italian Federation for Disabled Sport (Federazione Italiana Sport Disabili, FISD) promotes disabled sport and associated activities. 

• Milan Provincial Committee
  At: Via Pontida 14/B, 20063 Cernusco sul Naviglio (MI)
  Website 

Atlha is an association for young people with special needs and disabilities. It provides information on sporting activities, leisure activities and events.

• At: Via Casina Bellaria 90, 20151 Milan
  Tel: 02 482 06551
  Fax: 02 482 06553
  Website

Italian Associations for the Disabled

There are a number of associations related to reduced mobility and disability. Please note that these organisations operate in the Italian language. There is no guarantee of finding an English-speaker.

• Associazione Nazionale Famiglie di Disabili Intelletivi e Relazionli (Anffas): A national association looking after the rights of intellectually disabled people and their families, the Anffas operates in the sectors of education, professional training, work, sport and free-time.
  • Tel: 06 3611524,
    Website (in Italian)
    e-mail
• Associazione Sclerosi Tuberosa: This association dealing with tuberous sclerosis aims to help the families concerned and provide support for the research into the disease. The association organises meetings everywhere in Italy to provide information on the disease and the latest medical treatments.
  • Tel: 06 9415001
    Website (in Italian)
    e-mail
• Unione Italiana dei Ciechi: Association for the integration of blind people into the community. The ALA (Agenzia per la Promozione del Lavoro dei Ciechi) aims to help blind people in the work environment.
  • Unione Italiana dei Ciechi
    Tel: 800 682 682 / 06 699881
    Website (in Italian)
• Associazione Italiana Persone Down: The Italian Association for People suffering from Downs Syndrome.
  • At: Viale delle Milizie 106, Rome
    Tel: 06 3720891
    Website
• Unione Italiana Lotta alla Distrofia Muscolare (UILDM) aims to promote scientific research on muscular dystrophy and facilitate social integration.
  • Website
• Associazione Anni Verdi: An association and support group for physically or mentally handicapped people.
  • At: Via Quirino Majorana 195, 00152 Rome
    Tel: 06 5518211
• Mason Perkins: Fund support for deaf and deaf-blind children.
  • At: Via Nomentana 56, Rome
    Tel: 06 44234511
    Website
• U.C.L.A.I.: Association providing help to disabled people.
  • At: Via Paolo Emilio 24/d, 00192 Rome
    Tel: 06 3610992

Associations for the disabled in Lombardy

• AGPD (Associazione Genitori e Persone con Sindrome di Down ONLUS) Association for people with Down's Syndrome and their families
  At: Viale Piceno 60, 20129 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 761 0527 / 02 701 07002
  Fax: 02 700 04635
  Website
  e-mail
• Associazione Paraplegici - Association for the paraplegic
  At: Via Tarvision 13, 20125 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 670 74375 
  Fax: 02 670 73112
  Website
• LEDHA (Lega per i diritti degli handicappati) League for the rights of disabled people
  At: Via Monte Santo 7, 20124 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 657 0425
  Fax: 02 657 0426
  Website
• A.N.D.I (Associazione Nationale Disabili Italiani) National Italian Association for the Disabled 
  At: Via Curio Dentato 11, 201246 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 471 021
  Fax: 02 422 95443
  Website
  e-mail

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