Sport and social inclusion: research project "Ti propongo un cambio"

A survey led by ISTAT about the aspects of the daily life of disabled in Italy, shows up how the inclusion of them, in the social relationships, is one of the most relevant issues. It results that, the more high the limitation degree is, the more the personal autonomy is affected and then the ability to relate with the other. A possible solution could be found in the associations as a potential inclusion mean and an opposition to the isolation. In this context, took form the project “Ti propongo un cambio”. This is about the change of perspective which tried to make an able-bodied society go towards disabled subjects to understand their situation in trying the disability on themselves. This project wants to encourage the meeting and the dialogue between these two realities and to promote a better inclusion by able-bodied, along one of the few possible ways: the sport. 17 able-bodied young, from 13 to 17, volunteers of a local Oratory, participated to many sports and psychomotor recovery activities, with other disabled young of a sports association. The activities were held every week, three days a week, in January 2013. The able-bodied simulated the disability to realize the real conditions of the disabled of the Association. During the simulations, there were obvious difficulties in the execution of the motor task required by the trainer; these inconveniences were reported in observation cards properly compiled by the ablebodied subjects. Apart from the simulation test, the most important for this project, two other tests were held. At the beginning and at the end of January, it was compiled the “TGMD” Test for the valuation of the gross motor development. In the first test, not all the subjects were able to execute the exercise in a proper way, but there was a huge improvement in the second test, thanks to the good conduct of the sports activities in the project’s program. Before the project activities the subjects answered some questions about the disability and about their behavior in approaching the disabled subjects; also this test was repeated at the end of the activities. It showed up a change of perspective, thanks to the overcoming of the stereotypes and of their fears. From the results detected by the simulation cards and the answers about the disability, it is clear how the two observed realities were able to find and maintain a strong contact point, which led to the incrementation of the awareness that we’re all part of a unique world.