Dealing with disability
Too often, disability, whether physical or mental, is seen as a problem to hide and not as a situation to address. As a result we find ourselves looking for temporary and quick answers for a specific incident, rather than comprehensive solutions that allow facing the future with greater serenity. The family of a disabled person faces a wall. They wonder how they will assist him or her, for how long and how to combine their personal commitments with the needs for care.
The assistance of the disabled person is now facilitated by the legal job of the <“support administrator” (amministratore di sostegno), in addition to the traditional guardian. However this is a non-professional figure, having family connections with the disabled and able to best interpret desires and aspirations.
Beside the support administrator, a professionally qualified figure is often required to assist for the best execution of his or her task. For many acts it is still necessary to interact with the tutelary judge or the Court. For many others, the assistance of a qualified figure is more appropriate. This will protect the support administrator and the disabled from mistakes or mishaps, ensuring the best collaboration in the pursuit of the disabled’s interests.
The awareness of the legislature in respect to disability issues has taken important steps. Nowadays, there are several solutions at hand that make both the life of the disabled and the family better, ensuring the maximum efficiency of protective measures and their continuity over time.