The Department
Functions
The Department is the support structure utilized by the President of the Council of Ministers or the political Authority delegated thereby to perform the functions of guidance, coordination, promotion, supervision, and verification in matters concerning policies in favor of persons with disabilities.
In particular, the Department:
oversees the implementation of guidance and coordination functions, as well as the promotion of the Government's strategic action, with reference to policies in favor of persons with disabilities in every field;
handles all necessary administrative requirements, including those related to the management of funds allocated for the implementation of measures aimed at guaranteeing the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, and at fostering their full and effective social participation, inclusion, and autonomy, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and the priorities established by the Solfagnano Charter;
handles the administrative management and support for the operation and execution of tasks assigned to the National Observatory on the Condition of Persons with Disabilities referred to in Article 3, paragraph 5, of Law No. 18 of March 3, 2009, also in collaboration with the mission structure "Technical Secretariat for Disability Policies" referred to in the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of October 29, 2021, which provides, among other things, for the implementation and updating of the website of the National Observatory on the Condition of Persons with Disabilities;
carries out the preparatory activities within its competence connected with the adoption of acts, including legislative and regulatory acts, concerning disability matters; carries out preparatory activities for the purpose of promoting understandings and agreements within the Permanent Conference for relations between the State, the Regions, and the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano, and within the Unified Conference referred to in Articles 2 and 8 of Legislative Decree No. 281 of August 28, 1997, aimed at developing coordinated governance among different levels of government regarding social, health, and educational performance and services in favor of persons with disabilities;
ensures institutional information and communication activities within its areas of competence, including the dissemination of positive actions and best practices; guarantees Government representation in national, European, and international bodies competent in disability matters, and provides the necessary support to the political Authority in the exercise of the same functions;
promotes, in collaboration with ISTAT (National Institute of Statistics) and INPS (National Social Security Institute), data collection activities concerning persons with disabilities;
handles the preliminary assessment of requests concerning queries or notifications on the condition of disability; promotes and coordinates study and research activities in the field of policies in favor of persons with disabilities;
prepares legal/technical opinions on requests for the patronage of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in disability matters; promotes constant dialogue with the Third Sector Entities most representative in the field of disability; handles the competence-related activities connected with the care and assistance tasks of the family caregiver;
handles the competence-related activities regarding the keeping of the register referred to in Article 1, paragraph 708, of Law No. 199 of December 30, 2025.
Organization
Head of Department: Antonella Nicotra
Email: dipartimento.disabilita@governo.it
Tel.: +39 06 6779 5340
Department Secretariat Email: dipartimento.disabilita@governo.it
Certified Email (PEC): ufficio.disabilita@pec.governo.it
Email for petitions/requests: ufficio.disabilita@governo.it or Tel.: +39 06 6779 5340
Address: Via della Panetteria 18a, 00187, Rome (RM), Italy