Empowering Individuals with Disabilities: Alba Anffas Crema’s Pioneering Approach to Autonomy and Employment
CREMA – A groundbreaking project is achieving significant success, increasing participation tenfold in under a decade, and attracting interest from beyond its local region. The Fondazione Alba Anffas Crema is demonstrating remarkable results in its initiatives designed to support adolescents and young adults with disabilities as they build futures, particularly in securing employment or pursuing post-secondary education and training.
From Experimental Labs to Expanded Opportunities
The initiative began in 2017 with a small group of six to seven participants in experimental laboratories. Today, the program has expanded to include 60 individuals. The foundation adapts its approach to meet the evolving needs of teenagers, preparing them for the world of work and independent adult life. Fabrizio Carrera, developmental age coordinator at Fondazione Alba Anffas Crema, explains, “We have groups of boys and girls working together, based on ability, anticipating the emergence of their capabilities. The children enjoy the relationship between peers, the spontaneity of this situation. We also support families in the transition between school levels, and in the transition to adulthood. We create a network in schools and with the territory.”
Fostering Self-Determination and Peer Support
A key focus of the program is fostering self-determination. The “All Included” group, established in 2025, exemplifies this approach, bringing together five individuals with disabilities and three able-bodied peers. This mixed group provides a supportive environment for skill development and social interaction.
Individualized Pathways to Success
Each participant receives an individualized pathway, often combining school attendance with afternoon sessions at the foundation’s centers. Locations include facilities on Via Colbert, which were visited by Minister for Disability Alessandra Locatelli, and in the hamlet of Sant’Angelo. Participation varies from three days a week to just one, with a focus on socio-occupational activities.
Practical Skills and Community Integration
At the Via Colbert laboratories, participants engage in practical activities such as producing jams, flavored salts, and specialty sugars, which are then sold to the public. Other projects include packaging wedding favors and creating gift items. These activities also emphasize community integration through outings within the city.
Supporting Autonomy for Individuals with Autism
In Sant’Angelo, activities focus on developing autonomy skills, particularly for young people with autism and high care needs. Carrera notes, “Over the years, the age range has always been more involved, so as to accompany these young people in choosing their life path after school. By supporting them in this way, we are able to accompany them into the age of transition adequately. In the past, they had these opportunities after twenty years, but for them it meant wasting precious time.”
Looking Ahead
Fondazione Alba Anffas Crema’s success demonstrates the power of individualized support, peer interaction, and practical skills development in empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve their full potential. The foundation’s continued commitment to adapting its programs and expanding its reach promises to create even more opportunities for young people to thrive.