HOME / NEWS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Sports and Disability: A Winning Combination
Sports and disability: a winning combination for growth in the name of inclusion
The “INSPORT – Includere con lo sport” event was held at the LUISS University: institutions, experts, and Third Sector Associations (TSOs) came together to promote sports as a means to wellbeing, inclusion, and participation for children and teens with disabilities.
Rome, 25 October 2023 – Raising awareness and facilitating discussions on topics relating to the inclusion of disabled individuals, specifically children and adolescents, promoting sports as a means of valuing diversity. This was the objective of the “INSPORT – Includere con lo sport” event, an initiative organized at the LUISS University in Rome by SuperJob, a platform providing job opportunities, information, and support to disabled individuals. The event brought together institution representatives, experts, and Third Sector Associations (TSOs), in addition to providing an opportunity for the youth from the participating associations and LUISS Athletes to come together in a sporting event.
A day devoted to sports as a conduit for wellbeing and inclusion across all age groups, particularly children, for whom sports represent a clear pathway to social inclusion, promoting diversity, encouraging socialization, and cultivating mutual respect.
Massimiliano Atelli, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, opened the event by underscoring “The ability of sports to be a means for inclusion and for the development of personal abilities and skills that can make a difference in achieving common goals. By practicing sports, young people learn respect, healthy competition, and how to accept defeat, all fundamental values that are the foundation of both sports and life as a whole.”
This initiative was promoted by SuperJob and it aligns with its mission to combat prejudice levied against individuals that are thought of as “different” and to transform said prejudice into a key for success in the world of work and everyday life in general, in collaboration with “Formiche”, “CORE – Thinking Connections”, Michael Page, LUISS University, and with the support of Neopharmed Gentili, the main partner of the project.
The “Carta Straccia”, “Divertitempo ONLUS”, “Mio Fratello è Figlio Unico ONLUS”, and “Opera in Corsia” associations participated in the event, sharing their own first-hand accounts.
Paolo Del Bene, Director of the LUISS Sports Association, hosted the event and reminded those present that “The University’s commitment in accompanying and supporting the different categories of student athletes within the sports program of LUISS University, originally created in 1988 with its first basketball team, now includes 13 sports, 18 teams, and 11 sports academies active to date”.
“Our only limitations are the ones we impose upon ourselves”, said Donato Telesca, a European Paralympic powerlifting champion. “Even the toughest of difficulties may turn into opportunities to begin anew, which is why we should never stop believing in our own abilities and we should always strive to achieve new goals.”
“Primary Care Pediatrics places considerable emphasis on children and teens with physical, mental, and intellectual disabilities, for whom an early diagnosis and continuous care are two crucial factors capable of significantly improving quality of life and mitigating the impact of the disability on the family.” stated Dr. Serafino Pontone Gravaldi, the National Representative for rare diseases and disability of the Italian Federation of Primary Care Pediatricians (FIMP – Federazione Italiana Medici Pediatri). “Family pediatricians are at the forefront of raising awareness on the importance of supporting children, including when transitioning from pediatric to adult care, with multidisciplinary teams that operate within structures capable of incorporating medical care, occupational therapy, sports, and recreational activities. Indeed, improving the condition of disability is not only a medical issue but also a social one, impacting all facets of life, from school, to work, to free time. Consequently, it is imperative that we dismantle existing obstacles to inclusion and promote participation in sports as a way of fostering socialization and the dissemination of social values, thereby enhancing interpersonal skills”.
“Inclusion in the workforce is a commitment that is renewed on a daily basis at our company”, explained Francesca Caricchia, the Senior Executive Director at Michael Page, a recruiting company part of PageGroup and a SuperJob partner. “This commitment originates internally, enabling disabled individuals to grow and generate value, and extends externally through the collaboration with SuperJob, which offers a dedicated team for selecting disabled candidates and supporting them as they enter the workforce.”
“We take immense pride in having supported this initiative of significant social value, alongside important partners and associations that, through their own initiatives, are pursuing the goal of improving the quality of life of disabled individuals and their families.” stated Valentina Cefalù, a member of SuperJob’s Scientific Committee. “As a company committed to challenging the misconceptions about diversity until it is recognized as an asset, we firmly believe that it is fundamental in promoting continued dialogue on these issues by involving institutions, professionals, companies, and associations. Specifically, thanks to their universal language, sports are capable of uniting communities, and they favor full inclusion of individuals with special needs. It is a commitment that we will continue to pursue with ever-growing determination and that has prompted us to initiate the process of transitioning towards becoming an association.”
As a way of promoting the message on the importance of sports in psycho-physical wellbeing, as well as a means of supporting the growth of individuals with disabilities, the young members of the associations involved in the INSPORT – Includere con lo sport” project and the LUISS athletes, participated in a diverse program of sports activities, including rugby, volleyball, and basketball.
We would like to thank all the participating associations and the media partners “Formiche” and “Askanews”.
More information on SuperJob:
SuperJob is an innovative e-recruitment platform that manages to bridge the divide between the corporate sector and individuals with disabilities simply and efficiently. The portal, which is free to use for both candidates and companies, was developed with the latest user experience and navigation features suitable for users with any disability, while also having the unique feature of instantly connecting job seekers and employers — candidates with the ideal company.
Beyond this targeted placement feature for the disabled, SuperJob aims to challenge the misconceptions companies hold with regard to disabilities as a catalyst for generating value and growth.
The project, which launched in 2020 thanks to a contribution by Neopharmed Gentili and in collaboration with Michael Page, continues to evolve, with the objective of extending the dialogue among the various Stakeholders (institutions, companies, associations, schools, etc.) to facilitate an exchange of knowledge and experiences, as well as to co-create solidarity projects geared towards the integration of disabled individuals into the workforce.
https://super-jobs.it/
Press Office Value Relations
Angela Del Giudice
Mob. 392.6858392 | a.delgiudice@vrelations.it
Chiara Farroni
Mob. 331.4997375 | c.farroni@vrelations.it