When fun becomes accessible

What does it mean to make an event accessible? And above all, how do you do it in practice?

The answer is not trivial at all! That’s why we thought to interview a person who has been working in this area for years.

We are talking about Veronica Calamo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cooperative Social "L’integrazione Onlus" and creator of the Abilfesta brand.

What struck us most about Veronica is her ardent passion: for her, it is not a just job like so many others, but a real mission!

How did your passion for a delicate sector such as disability arise?

My passion for the disability sector was born in my family. I have a disabled younger sister, which  instilled in me the belief that there is no difference between those that the "normal" world calls disabled and all the others. Growing up I realized that this concept belonged only to me and a few others. This is how my commitment to enhancing differences and to integrating differences was born.​

In your opinion, what are the main problems and obstacles to social inclusion to date?

Surely the lack of infrastructure that allows people with disabilities to overcome their physical limits, putting them on a par with everyone else, giving them the same opportunities... I’m referring to architectural barriers, to be clear. Although in reality, in my experience, the biggest limits are the psychological barriers: the fear of diversity in the first place!

What led you to develop the idea of an accessibility brand?

Every time I attended an event, I realized that the organization neglected, or even forgot people with disabilities, ignoring their needs, starting from the simple desire to participate. At that point I started to think of a way to eliminate all the difficulties that a disabled person encounters every time he wants to attend an event. So, the idea of creating an accessibility brand was born. The project comes to life in 2018, when I registered it at the Ministry of Economic Development and since then our adventure begins.​

What are the characteristics of a Abilfesta event? How does it differ from any event and why should an organizer require it? What services do you offer to support it?

Basically, we put our know-how and our experience at the service of event organizers and tour operators, helping them in the definition of guidelines and suitable measures to make an event and/or a holiday accessible. The goal is to ensure that the disabled person can move independently from his/her familiy, knowing that in case of need, he/she can always count on a staff of qualified carers.

Among the services offered by the brand there are:

-  info-points and info-lines aimed at finding useful information regarding the accessibility of the event;

- staff (oss, interpreters, etc.) who can provide qualified assistance;

-  suitable route for access to the event;

- accessible toilets, easily reachable;

- Free hire of wheelchairs for short trips.

Our brand does nothing but apply the provisions of art. 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

How do people with disabilities react when they discover that their favorite event is accessible? Would you like to tell us some anecdotes?

The most frequent reaction I’ve encountered is astonishment. All of the feedbacks are positive and the number of users is constantly growing, thanks to the multi-channel communication activity carried out by our staff. I could cite many anecdotes... we could write an article only on this! I’ll tell you the first ones that come to my mind: at the event "Birra & Sound", a blind boy from Pordenone was amazed to find the braille menu in the beer stand, because for the first time he did not need the help of his wife; a tourist from Padua had the opportunity to participate in the "Notte della Taranta”, traveling alone... His unbelief ended the moment he was told that what he had been promised before the event had come true!

Are you satisfied with the work done so far? Would you share some numbers with our readers?

If I think of the starting point, I am certainly satisfied with the results achieved, even if I am convinced that there is still a lot to do. The road ahead is still very winding, but we are used to breaking down barriers!

Some numbers of events that have benefited from the Abilfesta brand:

-  Around 500 users assisted during the visit of Pope Francis in 2018 (Alessano);

-  More than 200 users assisted at Battiti Live 2019;

-  More than 240 users assisted during the Notte della Taranta 2018/19;

-  More than 200 users assisted during the Carnival of Putignano 2020;

-  An average of 120 users assisted each year at the Birra & Sound Festival.

Earlier, chatting, you told us that if you want to make substantial changes you need to have the courage to think and act outside the box. Could you give us some examples?

I am convinced that if you want to change something you have to think differently from everyone else, along paths never beaten, without being afraid of the unknown. Many years ago, at the beginning of my experience, I decided to make a holiday in a tourist village, with a group of children with various disabilities. When I went to inspect the village to book, I realized the total lack of infrastructure suitable to welcome our group. I could have given up the idea, blaming the fault to the "system", but since the desire for change exceeded the apparent difficulties, I decided to convince the owners of the structure to adapt the village to the needs of our group. How did I do it? First, I highlighted the moral duty to give everyone the chance to go on vacation. Secondly, I made them reflect on the opportunity to invest in a new tourist market. Would you like some other example?! I could name a few of our battles for inclusion in big events. I immediately remember our protest in 2014, when in a concert with thousands of spectators, only 15 places had been set up for people with disabilities! I don’t want to dwell too long... I am just saying that we have taken steps to report this situation to all local institutions and in the end, we have managed to get the change in the security plan and the doubling of the platform reserved for disabled people!

Which are your plans for the future? Are you ready for the restart?

Since 2018, the date of the birth of Abilfesta, the events that have benefited from the brand have been circumscribed in the provinces of Puglia. Our aim for the future is to take it to other regions and, why not, to other states. The positive feedback obtained in our territory pushes us to commit to achieve these goals, in the awareness that there are many disabled people who can not attend their favorite events, without our help!

Veronica’s testimony is eloquent! Her history teaches us that no obstacle is insuperable. The important thing is to believe and fight with all your strength, even when it seems impossible... indeed, especially when it seems impossible. On the other hand, as Nelson Mandela said, "it always seems impossible until it is done".

Do you agree?! Help us to spread this message, TOGETHER WE CAN REALIZE THE IMPOSSIBLE!