In Campania it won “Turismo BalneAbile”; in Emilia Romagna "There is a holiday for me"; in Friuli Venezia Giulia “A-mare il mare”; in Piedmont “Via Francigena for all”; in Sicily “Tuttinclusi”, and so on.
The Government's public call for the funding of accessible tourism projects for people with disabilities has met with great success among the Regions and Provinces, which will now make use of national resources to make their territories more inclusive and welcoming, to build infrastructure and services, to organize work placements. And Sardinia? He didn't participate. No program has been presented to equip our beaches and our vacation spots, to allow Sardinians and summer visitors who, for example, move around in a wheelchair, to enjoy the sun, sea and moments of freedom. Thus, we have lost resources for 1.2 million euros.
The complaint The complaint comes from the Sardinia Accessible association of Alfio Uda and Luciana Hatfull: «When we saw the list of beneficiaries of the Fund we didn't want to believe it: Sardinia is the only region absent», they explain. «We thought it was a mistake, and we wrote to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers to ask for explanations. Unfortunately they gave us the confirmation: no one has presented projects. So, goodbye to an important figure, 1 million 200 thousand euros (this was foreseen for Regions with up to 3 million inhabitants), which would have helped us a lot to make our land more accessible". Alfio Uda, born in Macomer 55 years ago, former financial advisor, basketball player and football referee, had a motorcycle accident in September 2015, a car cut him off, he fell, hit his head and fractured two vertebrae. When, after a month of induced coma at Brotzu, he woke up, he knew he could no longer walk on his legs. Subsequently, life subjected him to other harsh trials (his story gained national prominence) and today he is a very active man, always with his partner, Luciana Hatfull, a physiotherapist from Alghero who treated, followed and supported him during convalescence. The battle The couple has created the non-profit organisation, a very popular Facebook page, which fights to eliminate barriers and obstacles and to raise awareness among the institutions, and keeps the map of the island's lidos updated (unfortunately few) accessible to all. "We are angry, the fact that the Region has not presented projects under the Disability Fund is a very serious shortcoming", they continue, "we know that there has been a rebound of responsibility: the tourism department says it was up to the Health Department, but this is not the point, the competence does not belong to one or the other, but to the Region as a whole. I went twice to meet Gianni Chessa in the councillor's office», adds Uda, «and both times he "burned" me. I left him documents and indications, but evidently he didn't even consider them. I am saddened by this lack of attention."
The map “Accessible Sardinia” points out that «in Cagliari the Golfo degli Angeli Cooperative has seven accessible and equipped points at Poetto, then there is Quartu (Chiringuito). Again, the disabled find "home" in Pula, in four areas, in Solanas, Costa Rei, Muravera. To remember in Sant'Antioco on the Maladroxia beach, the establishment also for seriously disabled patients with ALS. Overall - they warn - there are a few dozen really "welcoming" structures throughout Sardinia, but they are a drop in the ocean, because all without distinction should be".
