Italian-Australian Initiative on 3rd December: European Day of Disabled People

Supported by the cities of Milan and Melbourne, ATLHA ONLUS is proud to present its awareness-raising campaign on the theme of mobility and accessibility of public transport by people with disabilities: A DISABLED PERSON HAS YOUR AIMS. BUT NOT YOUR MEANS. The year-long campaign will commence on the European Day of Disabled People, the 3rd December 2007, under the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Ministry for Equal Opportunities and Rights.

The official launch takes place at a press conference, to be held at Atlha's headquarters in the presence of Milan's Public Authorities, and will run in Milan, Verona and other Italian cities throughout the whole year 2008.

In addition to the awareness raising campaign, Atlha will hold an exhibition in the central square of Milan, where an original artwork from the Australian artist Jane Trengove will be put on show, by the courtesy of the city of Melbourne. The artworks will then be donated to the Local Authorities of Milan, the Province of Milan and the Lombardy Region, in order to strengthen the bonds between the city of Milan and the city of Melbourne, that are sister cities.

At the press conference, Atlha is also proud to launch its new project, in collaboration with the Municipality of Milan, the "Courtesy Service": an innovative service offered by the city of Milan to all tourists with disabilities and/or reduced mobility. Once again, this ambitious project has the support of the Municipality of Melbourne and its Mayor, Mr John So, who is strongly in favour of the development of such a facility in Milan, mirroring what is already happening in Melbourne through its Mobility Centre.

Atlha has been working for over 20 years in the field of free time for disabled people, in order to favour their greatest social inclusion. Its activities started off from theurapeutical tourism, and now range from the organisation of cultural, social and sports programmes, to theatre activities, to educational activities and training courses for a successful job insertion of disabled people within the job market.

The campaign flyer in English can be downloaded from the right-hand panel in PDF format. A text description in English may be downloaded in WORD format.