Rethinking policies for persons with disabilities through the capability approach

Abstract

The aim of this article is to describe how the capability approach can be applied in Italy, within a regional context, to enhance social policies designed for persons with disabilities. The case of the Tuscany Region is taken as an example. The article presents several tools meant to reach this goal. Although these are thought to answer different identifiable problems, they should be implemented together in order to reshape effectively the whole regional system. The most relevant instrument, according to the “dis-capability” framework, is the life project within a person-centred planning strategy. This gives the possibility of carrying out an accurate mapping of the person’s needs, characteristics, and desires throughout a personal reflection process. If the life project represents the pivot around which we define a “mosaic strategy” – i.e. a step-by-step process of actions for the person with disabilities – an effective reform of social policies for people with disabilities needs to be complemented with other relevant instruments and changes in order to favour personal and collective flourishing. These changes include – besides a cultural shift by political leaders – a structural reorganisation of the health and social services delivery, an up-grading of the competencies and, above all, a well-organized and capillary informative system.

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