Other initiatives
Accessible Tourism
To ensure full accessibility across cultural heritage sites, museums, beaches, and urban environments, a funding envelope of 50 million euros was allocated by the Ministry for Disabilities. This initiative also supported employment inclusion within the tourism sector, funding 560 traineeships for persons with disabilities.
Legal References: Decree of the Minister for Disabilities of 1 August 2024 (Official Gazette No. 243 of 16 October 2024).
Support for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons
A total allocation of 16.1 million euros was assigned to promote the social inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Funding supported the promotion and use of Italian Sign Language (LIS) and Tactile LIS (LIST), interpretation services for emergency and public administration access, and assistive technologies for acoustic and cochlear implant users.
An additional 300,000 euros was granted to the State Institute for the Deaf in Rome to deliver specialized speech therapy services to deaf children and youth, with priority given to students enrolled at the "A. Magarotto" Specialized State Educational Institute.
Legal References: Decree of the Minister for Disabilities of 14 February 2023; Decree of the Minister for Disabilities of 8 January 2025; Decree of the Minister for Disabilities of 26 September 2025.
Inclusive Suburbs and Urban Renewal
Pursuant to Art. 1, paras. 362-364, Law No. 197 of 29 December 2022, the Fund for Inclusive Suburbs was established with 10 million euros targeting major municipalities with over 300,000 inhabitants (Bari, Bologna, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Rome, and Turin) to tackle marginalization in suburban areas.
Furthermore, targeted urban renewal projects were completed in highly vulnerable areas, including the establishment of the "Talent Space" and the Extraordinary Disability Advisory Board in the Municipality of Caivano. This operational framework was extended to additional vulnerable municipalities, such as Rozzano, under Decree-Law No. 208 of 27 December 2024 and Decree-Law No. 25 of 14 March 2025.
Legal References: Art. 1, paras. 362-364, Law No. 197 of 29 December 2022; Decree of the Minister for Disabilities of 26 May 2023; Decree of the Minister for Disabilities of 25 June 2024.
Increases in Single Universal Child Allowance
Pursuant to Art. 1, para. 357, Law No. 197 of 29 December 2022, increased allowance rates for families with dependent children with disabilities were made permanent, removing age limits for receiving the base-rate allowance increase per dependent child.
Legal References: Art. 1, para. 357, Law No. 197 of 29 December 2022.
Energy Crisis Mitigation and Facility Upgrades
A total of 275 million euros was allocated to Third Sector entities, residential care facilities (RSAs), and public charities (IPABs) to offset rising electricity and heating costs.
Additionally, under Art. 1-ter of Decree-Law No. 39 of 29 March 2024 (converted by Law No. 67 of 23 May 2024), a 100 million euro fund for 2025 was created to finance energy efficiency and structural renovation projects for real estate assets used by non-profit organizations for statutory activities.
Legal References: Art. 8, Decree-Law No. 144 of 23 September 2022; Art. 1, para. 366, Law No. 197 of 29 December 2022; D.P.C.M. 8 February 2023; Art. 1-ter, Decree-Law No. 39 of 29 March 2024.
EU Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities (EU Disability Parking Card)
In compliance with Directive (EU) 2024/2841, Art. 17 of Law No. 91 of 13 June 2025 reformed the national regulations on the EU Disability Parking Card. Key features include:
free issuance and renewal for beneficiaries;
centralized production in physical and digital formats (with QR code) by the State Printing Office and Mint (IPZS);
extension of the validity period from five to ten years.
Legal References: Art. 17, Law No. 91 of 13 June 2025.
European Disability Card
Transposing Directive (EU) 2024/2841, Law No. 91 of 13 June 2025 regulates the European Disability Card to certify disability status and grant access to preferential rates and services across EU Member States under mutual recognition rules. Produced free of charge by IPZS, the card is integrated into the digital wallet of the IO App, supporting cross-border interoperability.
Legal References: Art. 17, Law No. 91 of 13 June 2025.
Equality Bodies Directive
Pursuant to Art. 1 of Law No. 91 of 13 June 2025 (European Delegation Law), provisions were adopted to transpose Directive (EU) 2024/1499 regarding standards for Equality Bodies, reinforcing their independence and protective capabilities for persons with disabilities.
Legal References: Art. 1, Law No. 91 of 13 June 2025.
European Accessibility Act
Legislative Decree No. 82 of 27 May 2022 transposed Directive (EU) 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act). The Agency for Digital Italy (AgID) subsequently issued technical Guidelines establishing accessibility requirements for digital products, hardware, self-service terminals, and public transport service interfaces.
Legal References: Legislative Decree No. 82 of 27 May 2022; AgID, Guidelines on Accessibility of Services pursuant to Art. 21 of D.Lgs. 82/2022.
Disability Code
Pursuant to Art. 16 of Law No. 167 of 10 November 2025 (Annual Regulatory Simplification Law), drafting is underway for the consolidated Disability Code to streamline primary statutory sources, to be followed by a single regulatory text for secondary legislation.
Legal References: Art. 16, Law No. 167 of 10 November 2025.
Artificial Intelligence and Assistive Technologies
Articles 3 and 7 of Law No. 132 of 23 September 2025 on Artificial Intelligence establish equal access to AI systems for persons with disabilities and promote AI-driven assistive technologies to enhance personal autonomy and individual Life Plan formulation, aligned with Priority No. 3 of the Solfagnano Charter (G7 Inclusion and Disability).
Legal References: Arts. 3 and 7, Law No. 132 of 23 September 2025.
Legal Definition of Deafblindness
Art. 63 of Law No. 182 of 2 December 2025 amended Law No. 107 of 24 June 2010, updating the statutory definition of deafblindness. The status is recognized for all individuals presenting combined visual and hearing impairments (congenital or acquired), regardless of the age of onset, in accordance with European standards and the UN CRPD.
Legal References: Art. 63, Law No. 182 of 2 December 2025; Law No. 107 of 24 June 2010.
Complementary Therapies
Pursuant to Art. 2 of Law No. 210 of 16 December 2024, National Guidelines regulating Mototherapy were adopted. Furthermore, complementary healthcare initiatives were launched, including the "Velando" adaptive sailing project, the "Tip Top Mountain" mountain therapy program with Special Olympics Italy, and the establishment of a national Task Force on mountain therapy.
Legal References: Art. 2, Law No. 210 of 16 December 2024; National Guidelines for Mototherapy Regulation.
Statutory Recognition of Assistance Dogs
Art. 1, paras. 223-228, Law No. 207 of 30 December 2024, introduced formal statutory recognition for assistance dogs (medical alert dogs for diabetes/epilepsy, mobility support, hearing support, and neurodevelopmental support dogs), extending the free-access rights on public transport and in public venues previously granted to guide dogs for blind persons, backed by an annual budget of 1.5 million euros.
Legal References: Art. 1, paras. 223-228, Law No. 207 of 30 December 2024.
Civil Protection and Emergency Disaster Management
Emilia-Romagna Hydrogeological Emergency: Art. 15 of Decree-Law No. 61 of 1 June 2023 (converted by Law No. 100 of 31 July 2023) guaranteed the continuity and temporary home-delivery conversion of social care services in flood-affected regions.
Campi Flegrei Seismic Risk: Decree-Law No. 140 of 12 October 2023 (converted by Law No. 183 of 7 December 2023) regulated emergency evacuation planning in the Campi Flegrei area, establishing a census of facilities housing persons with disabilities and accessible warning systems.
Civil Protection Guidelines: Operational guidelines were adopted by the Civil Protection Department for disaster response planning for persons with special needs, aligned with Priority No. 8 of the Solfagnano Charter.
Legal References: Art. 15, Decree-Law No. 61 of 1 June 2023; Decree-Law No. 140 of 12 October 2023.