Living disability in Rome and Paris, the fourth series of videos of Égalité

Architectural barriers, the first exemplary sentence to the Municipality of Pomezia

28 January 2023

Inequalities in Italy, the Oxfam report

8 February 2023

Published by Dario Dongo on 4 February 2023

Living with disability in Rome, the videos of Égalité

1) Crossing the street

There is no music or narration as effective as the images of a Roman citizen in a wheelchair, Giuseppe Conti, forced to risk his life to leave his house and cross the street in Tor Carbone, Roma Capitale, Municipio VIII.

The repeated instances to the 'competent' public offices and the road murder of a pedestrian, in 2022, were not enough. The city manager asked to give the green light to the painting of the crosswalks told Giuseppe to 'stay in the garden'. Without words.

2) Family life

Giuseppe he shows up with his wife Jasmin Turtura, his sons Louis and Pierre Conti, the cat Petite and the dog Cacahouette. His life has changed due to multiple sclerosis but their life is instead turned upside down by a city, Rome, completely inaccessible.

The value of the family it recurs in electoral campaigns but is not reflected in bad administration for 37 years, late in defining the plan to eliminate architectural barriers. (1) La Montagnola, Rome, Municipality VIII.

3) Rome sclerotic

Tania Castelli è single but he has lived in Rome with multiple sclerosis for 26 years. She works in a large Italian company and is involved in the volunteering group Melitea. To affirm rights and offer concrete support, in Italy, to vulnerable and marginalized people.

The discrimination of ATAC Rome to the detriment of people with disabilities emerges once again and in a new light, thanks to Tania's experience. Stair lifts are dangerous for those with balance problems, without lifts the subway remains inaccessible. (2)

4) La Parisienne (in French)

Jasmin Turtura, who emigrated from Paris to Rome, reveals what few could imagine. Inaccessibility unites the two European capitals, albeit with some style variations.

Paris and Rome are off-limits for those who don't walk. Subways without lifts, shops, restaurants and clubs without access ramps. The sidewalks at least, in France, are equipped with some slides.

5) Mala assistance on wheelchair motor breakdowns

Who is writing he in turn shared the experience of being forced into three months of lockdown, in your own home. Due to lack of assistance on an electric scooter (trike) - under warranty - essential to move the wheelchair.

The indifference of those responsible of this shame has already been reported. (3) With the only result of receiving - instead of a replacement vehicle, after a series of breakdowns and as many months of inconvenience - a threat of lawsuit from the Ottobock Italia scammers.

Participate in change

'I believe in the value of each individual's contribution in order to achieve the 'social change' increasingly called for in our time. I believe in small drops that together form oceans' (Tania Castelli, Melitea).

These videos of Égalité – like the previous ones, which we invite you to look at (4,5,6) – were made by volunteers on mission in Italy thanks to our ImpacTrip partners. Thanks to all of them and to those who want to help repair this sick society.

Dario Dongo