Notes for the Disabled

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Notes for the Disabled

Information on the following below (note that most organisation are Italian-speaking with no guarantee that there is an English-speaking contact): 

• Disabled Travel & Transport in Italy
  • Trains
  • Italian international airports
  • Bus travel
  • Boats and ferries
  • Cars and motorways
  • Disabled travel and Transport Liguria
• Tourism for the Disabled - Liguria
• General Information & Useful links
  • Information regarding work
  • Hobbies, sport and holidays
  • Sporting associations for the disabled Liguria
• Italian Associations for the Disabled
  • Associations for the Disabled in Liguria

Disabled Travel & Transport in Italy

Trains

Italian trains have a few reserved seats for wheelchair passengers, though passengers must be able to transfer from their wheelchair to the seat. Otherwise, some trains have compartments that can accommodate a wheelchair. 

The Italian Railways offers services to disabled people to assist them during their train journey. These services can be arranged through a Blue Hall (Sala Blu), an information point located in 14 main train stations. 251 smaller stations make up the Assistance Circuit which provide more abbreviated services. 

Staff at the Blue Hall can provide information, book seats, and arrange for a wheelchair, guide and assistance carrying 1 item of hand baggage. 

• Blue Hall (Sala Blu)
  Tel: 199 30 30 60
  Hours: 07:00-21:00
  Website
• For a list and contact information for Blue Halls throughout Italy: Click here
• For a list and contact information for Assistance Circuit stations throughout Italy: Click here

It is suggested to make special arrangements at least 24 hours prior to travel for international travel and for e-mail requests. Arrangements should be made at least 12 hours in advance for travel between or with connections at Assistance Circuit stations. For travel from 08:00-22:00 between main Blue Hall stations, notification should be given at least 1 hour before departure.

Travellers should arrive at the assistance point in the station no later than 30 minutes before departure.

A special free Blue Card (Carta Blu) provides fare reductions to Italian residents entitled to Italian mobility allowance, including blind people and war invalids. These cards can be obtained from a Blue Hall or station ticket counter.

• For information on the Carta Blu from Trenitalia: Click here

Italian international airports

EU regulations require that people with reduced mobility should have free, special assistance when needed in airplanes, airports, baggage check- in and with flight connections. Responsibility has been passed to the airports to accommodate the needs of the disabled traveller. Air companies are at liberty to provide services to people with reduced mobility.

In all major Italian airports there is a special service providing assistance to disabled people: wheelchair service, assistance during boarding and landing. The assistance will be arranged through the airline once the airline is notified by the passenger.

Each airline has its own internal procedures, describing the type of disability they may accept as well as the specific services offered on board and on ground. The disabled passenger should always notify the company about their specific needs when booking the ticket. It is also important to be present at the check-in desk at least one and a half hours before boarding. 

Genova Airport (Aeroporto di Genova) has disabled toilets, indoor and outdoor lifts and ramps. A touch-sensitive route and map is located on the departure level of the terminal. 22 free disabled parking spaces are available 50 metres from the terminal.

• For information on Genoa airport's facilities: Click here

Bus travel

The website bus.it (in Italian) provides contact information for companies that rent buses adapted for use by disabled people.

• Click here and then on the link on the left to Trasporto Disabili

Boats and ferries

The boat companies operating between the continent and the Italian islands have made most of their boats accessible to disabled people. It is necessary to specify the nature of disability when booking the ticket in order to obtain proper assistance when going on board. 

Among the companies offering special assistance for disabled are:

• Corsica Ferriesi
  At: Via Angelo Brunetti 25/D, Rome
  Tel: 06 3222469
• Ferrovie dello Stato, Divisione Navigazione Trasporto Passeggeri
  At: Molo Vespucci, 00053 Civitavecchia (RM)
  Tel: 0906 786478

Cars and motorways

The accessibility of Italian motorway service areas, restaurants, bathrooms and various amenities to disabled people is under development. On the national and provincial roads, this accessibility varies according to the area. For more information contact the Handicap Documentation Centre Association ( Associazione Centro Documentazione Handicap/CDH).

• Associazione Centro Documentazione Handicap
  At: Via Legnano 2, 40132 Bologna
  Tel: 800 018 537 / 051 641 5005
  Fax: 051 641 5055
  Website

Parking

Cars parking in disabled parking spaces must display the blue disabled parking card or a European Community blue badge. Contact the local town hall for information on obtaining a blue badge. 

The blue badge is a standardised European Community disabled person's parking permit which provides parking entitlements to badge holders in all complying European countries - a blue badge from one country is valid in another. A person coming to Italy from another EU country may find it easier to apply in their home country for this universal badge which allows the use of reserved parking.

Things to keep in mind:

• Disabled spaces in car parks reserved for disabled people are marked with a yellow line and a wheelchair symbol; parking is generally free in these spots, check with the parking attendant
• Do not park in a space marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number
• In an emergency and if not causing an obstruction, disabled parking is allowed on roads where parking is normally prohibited
• Do not park in pedestrian zones or ZTL (restricted traffic area) unless local law specifies it is allowed
• Disabled drivers may park without time restrictions on roads with parking time limits
• Full details from the ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport): Click here

Drivers with a blue badge from another European country may display this translation beside a badge written in another language (text from the UK Automobile Association):

Disabled travel and transport in Liguria

The following transport companies have a fleet of buses specifically designed to accommodate the disabled. Some have vehicles suitable for excursions with disabled travellers:

• AMT (numbers 17 and 19 are equipped with moving footboards)
  At: Via Montaldo 2, 16137 Genoa (GE)
  Tel: 0185 324 949
  Website
• Tigullio Marcone
  At: Piazza Matteotti 21, 10043 Chiavari (GE)
  Tel: 0185 303 750
  Website
• Nicos Group Red Line
  At: Via Mamiani, 39r, 16151 Genoa (GE)
  Tel: 010 645 9066
  Website
• Riviera Trasporti
  At: Via Nazionale, 365, 18100 Imperia (IM)
  Tel: 0184 500 857
  Website

Tourism for the Disabled - Liguria

The Terre di Mare web portal for disabled tourists in Liguria gives information about barrier-free tourism accessible by wheel chair users. Information is provided on disabled people's access to transport, events and facilities

• For up-to-date information (in English) see the Terre di Mare website: Click here

General Information & Useful links

• Azienda Sociale Locale (ASL): Any person wishing to have their disability recognised in Italy should refer to the Local Health Service (ASL). Social invalidity benefits will only be delivered to people holding not just a residence permit but an Italian permanent residence card, which is usually allocated after six years spent in the country. The same will be relevant to families wishing to apply for benefits for a handicapped child.
• Conzortio Sociale (COIN): The focus of the COIN is the social and economic integration of disabled people. 
  • General information can be found on their website: Click here (in Italian)  
    Tel: 800 810 810.
• Superabile: A website for disabled people, updated daily, provides useful information and tips on relevant laws, health issues, sport, hobbies and work. 
  • Information is provided through a call centre
    Tel: 800 810 810
    Website (in Italian) 
• Handylex: This is a useful national database containing news from the official paper Gazzetta Ufficiale and legal information relating to disabled people. 
• Cooperative ProgettAzione is a social project aiming to facilitate the integration of people who are having problems through actions of prevention and training.
  • At: Via Piave 2/a, 24026 Ponte San Pietro (BG)
    Tel: 0356 14928
    Website
• Disabili: An online journal and news magazine for disabled, this website is dedicated to handicapped people and provides information, chats, exchanges and discussion forums on various matters (in Italian).
• The Assistive Technology Research and Information Service (SIVA): Provides medical, social and vocational rehabilitation to people with a physical, mental or sensorial handicap. SIVA is developing a nationwide information system on assistive technology. 
  • Tel: 0240 308340
    Website

Information regarding work

• The website of the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs (Ministerio del Lavoro e delle Politiche Sociali) provides information on work policies, general social affairs and has a section on disability with relevant information. 
  • Tel: 800 196 196
    Website (in Italian)
• Handimpresa: Organisation based in Milan, aims to make it easier for disabled people to get jobs. Their website (in Italian) has useful links to help people find a job or a training session.
  • Tel: 0245 82173
    Website
    e-mail
• Foundation Don Gnocchi: A non-profit board providing care, rehabilitation and social integration for people in difficulty. Amongst its various missions the Foundation provides training for disabled people in IT, Internet, retail, catering and artisan trades. 
  • Website in English

Hobbies, sport and holidays

• On the initiative of the General Tourist Board (Direzione Generale per il Turismo del Ministero delle Attività Produttive), an online service, Italia per Tutti, has been created, which enables users to search and select a list of tourist sites in Italy with information on allergies, reduced mobility, wheelchairs and access for blind, deaf or elderly people. The website has a list of hotels, restaurants, bars and monuments and is available in English and German.
  • Website
• The tour operator Mondopossibile, member of the SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality) deals exclusively with travel and holidays for disabled people. 
  • Website (in Italian)
    e-mail
• Sportabili is a non-profit organisation aiming to create contacts and links between disabled people and the rest of the community. The services proposed include skiing, cross-country skiing, hand-biking, rafting, hydrospeed and tennis with special guides for blind people. 

  • Tel: 0462 501999
    Website (in Italian)
    e-mail

• Disabilincorsa offers several possibilities for disabled people to practice sport; running, cycling, ice-skating, horse-riding, mountains walks and sailing.
  • Tel: 0347 3845121
    Website (in Italian)
• Centro Internazionale del Libro Parlato produces registered books, in Italian, for blind people.
  • Tel: 0439 880425
    Website (in Italian)
    e-mail
• The Italian Library for the Blind (Biblioteca Italiana per i Ciechi) has a website with an exhaustive list of libraries of Italian audio books available for blind people in Italy.
  • Website

• Calibre Audio Books: UK charity, Calibre, supplies audio books in English on cassette or disk to visually impaired and disabled people. The free service is available to members (registration can be made via the website). Free postal service is available to anywhere in Europe. 

  • Calibre
    Tel: + 44 1296 432339
    Fax: + 44 1296 392599
    e-mail 
    Website

Sporting associations for the disabled in Liguria

The Franco-Italian sporting organisation Sport-No Limits supports sporting activity initiatives for the disabled across the length of the France-Italy border.

• Sport No Limits
  At: Via Tremola 11, 18039 Ventimiglia (IM) and at: Via San Bartolomeo degli Armeni 1, 16122 Genoa
  Tel: 0184 312 07
  Website

Italian Associations for the Disabled

There are a number of associations related to reduced mobility and disability. Please note that these organisations operate in Italian language. There is no guarantee of finding an English-speaker.

• Associazione Nazionale Famiglie di Disabili Intelletivi e Relazionli (Anffas): A national association looking after the rights of intellectually disabled people and their families, the Anffas operates in the sectors of education, professional training, work, sport and free-time.
  • Tel: 06 3611524
    Website (in Italian)
    e-mail
• Associazione Sclerosi Tuberosa: This association dealing with tuberous sclerosis aims to help the families concerned and provide support for the research into the disease. The association organises meetings everywhere in Italy to provide information on the disease and the latest medical treatments.
  • Tel: 06 9415001
    Website (in Italian)
    e-mail
• Unione Italiana dei Ciechi: Association for the integration of blind people into the community. The ALA (Agenzia per la Promozione del Lavoro dei Ciechi) aims to help blind people in the work environment.
  • Unione Italiana dei Ciechi
    Tel: 800 682 682 / 06 699881
    Website (in Italian)
• Associazione Italiana Persone Down: The Italian Association for People suffering from Downs Syndrome.
  • At: Viale delle Milizie 106, Rome
    Tel: 06 3720891
    Website
• Unione Italiana Lotta alla Distrofia Muscolare (UILDM) aims to promote scientific research on muscular dystrophy and facilitate social integration.
• Associazione Anni Verdi: An association and support group for physically or mentally handicapped people.
  • At: Via Quirino Majorana 195, 00152 Rome
    Tel: 06 5518211
    Website
• Mason Perkins: Fund support for deaf and deaf-blind children.
  • At: Via Nomentana 56, Rome
    Tel: 06 44234511
    Website
• U.C.L.A.I.: Association providing help to disabled people.
  • At: Via Paolo Emilio 24/d, 00192 Rome
    Tel: 06 3610992

Associations for the Disabled in Liguria

Associations for the Disabled and information centres can be found at the following Liguria addresses:

• UNIDOWN
  At: Via A Volta 19/4, 16128 Genoa (GE)
  Tel: 010 592 883 / 010 584 529
  e-mail
• Associazione Persona Down
  At: Via Cesare Battisti 16, 18100 Imperia (IM)
  Tel: 0183 650 184
• ADSO Associazione Down Savona Onlus
  At: C/o Agostino Tassara, Piazzale Moroni 1/8, 17100 Savona
  Tel: 019 263 823
• Sportello Informa Disabili (Disabled persons information centre)
  At: Via Dogali 2- 16038 S. Margherita Ligure (GE).
  Tel: 0185 280 434
• CIPS Deaf persons association
  At: Via Alghero 1/17, 16128 Genoa (GE)
  Tel: 010 582 948
• FIADDA Association of Italian families for the defence of those with hearing difficulties
  At: C.so Sardegna 36,1,  16142 Genoa (GE)
  Tel: 0105 451 214
  Website

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