Last 14 November, a press conference was organised in the Chamber of Deputies to present a proposal for a law recognising deafblindness as a specific disability in Italy.  A recognition which is indispensable for the care and protection of the rights of the deafblind.

Present at the conference were (see photo on right) Rosa Francioli, chairman of the Families' Committee, Francesco Mercurio, chairman of the Deafblind Committee, Mario Trapanese, our chairman, our sponsor Renzo Arbore and our secretary general Rossano Bartoli.

This is another step in the process which has already seen approval in the European Parliament (April 2004) of a resolution and the insertion of a specific paragraph in the Highway Code which regulates motorists' behaviour towards the deafblind, recognisable by their red and white canes.

The reasons which motivate the Association to support and assist the deafblind and which led to this proposal were reiterated during the conference.  The Chairman expressed the hope that Parliament and the government would give it approval quickly.  The politicians present at the press conference declared themselves in favour of the proposal and expressed their desire to examine it as quickly as possible in order to pass it as law. 

A few days after the press conference, the proposal, signed by 31 parliamentarians from all political persuasions, was deposited.  It asks for recognition of deafblindness as a specific disability.  The proposal has been tabled for discussion at the XII Commission on Social Affairs.

The commitment and requests for further information which have followed have shown us that our proposal has been well received and gives us hope for a swift resolution.