Disability in adulthood and the boundary between protection and promotion of self-determination

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to think about the issues relating to inclusion of disabled adults in different sectors of society, because of a series of reasons that will be illustrated during this dissertation. In order to remove the stigma which revolves around disability, it is important to promote as much as possible socialization opportunities, autonomy and self-determination of these people. In this context, the “amministrazione di sostegno” will be extensively discussed: an institution set up for the protection of fragile individuals which aims on the one hand at the maximum valorization of the person’s residual autonomy, but on the other hand at the protection of the person through the introduction of limits to its ability to act. Particularly, the critical issues of the institute will be highlighted and a relevant case (Calvi vs Italia) in which these critical issues clearly emerge will be examined.