Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and the Region of Tuscany join forces for the right to independent living for people with disabilities
On Thursday, June 19, starting at 9:30 a.m., the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa will host the seminar “Independent Living: A Challenge for Tuscany,” an opportunity for discussion and reflection on the right to independent living for people with disabilities and the commitment of the Tuscany Region to building inclusive, equitable, and sustainable pathways. The event, promoted jointly by the Sant'Anna School and the Region of Tuscany, marks the start of a three-year collaboration aimed at strengthening the right to independent living for people with disabilities, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention ratified by Italy in 2009, which the Region of Tuscany has been working hard to guarantee in recent times, as demonstrated by the forthcoming establishment of a Regional Observatory for Independent Living.
“Through an interdisciplinary approach, involving lawyers and economists,” emphasizes Elena Vivaldi, project manager at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies and Vice-Rector for Inclusion, Disability, and Gender Equality Policies, “the School is delighted to offer its expertise to support regional activities dedicated to the independent living of people with disabilities.”
The objectives of the seminar
Through dialogue between institutions, experts, professionals in the social and health sector, and people directly involved in independent living projects, the meeting aims to focus on the value of self-determination and social inclusion. Starting from the concrete experience of the territories, international and regional regulatory references, and perspectives related to training, it will be possible to outline common strategies to make policies supporting the autonomy of people with disabilities more effective.
The planned interventions
The event will open with institutional greetings from representatives of the institutions: for the Tuscany Region, President Eugenio Giani, Regional Councilor for Social Policies, Public Housing and International Cooperation Serena Spinelli, and Councilor Enrico Sostegni; for the Sant'Anna School, Vice Rector Gaetana Morgante and Coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Health Sciences Michele Emdin. This will be followed by a session of presentations dedicated to the regional implementation of the UN Convention, the new 2026 training plan for local areas, and the establishment of the Regional Observatory for Independent Living, with presentations for the Sant'Anna School by Sabina Nuti, Emanuele Rossi, Elena Vivaldi, Francesca Pennucci, and for the Tuscany Region by Alberto Zanobini.
The seminar will conclude with a round table, which will give voice to the experiences of Tuscan healthcare companies, representatives of regional institutions, and those who have experienced independent living firsthand (among the participants, for the Tuscany Region, Sara Nocentini and Laura Lunetti; for local social service companies, Rossella Boldrini, Patrizia Castellucci, and Laura Guerrini; and for the beneficiaries of the Independent Living program, Elena Papaleo).
