dimensione font riduci dimensione font aumenta la dimensione del font Stampa Email During the 73rd General Assembly of Hotrec, the European Association of cafés, restaurants and hotels (Malta 20-21 October) Mr. Andrea Stoccoro presented “In bars and restaurants I choose!” like Fipe’s best practice, in order to share this initiative with all the European colleagues and national associations of Hotrec. The initiative: Fipe, Bergamo FIPE’s local association and two non-profit organizations made two types of communication boards for children and adults with severe disabilities who may not be able to communicate by voice. These types of boards, used like placemats, are extremely important to help people who cannot communicate. The objective is to make the break at the bar or at the restaurant a moment of inclusion and relaxation for children and for those with disabilities and to sensitize people towards cognitive diseases. The placemats are made with Augmentative and alternative communication's method (AAC), where pictures of things, the children or adults with severe disabilities want to order are placed on a board and the children are asked to point to the picture to choose what they want. The placemats will allow children not only to communicate with their loved ones but ever more they will be able to communicate their wants and needs to the barman and waiter while they are in the bar or restaurant.

1. In bar and restaurant
I choose!
Malta, 21 October 2016

2. Dear colleagues,
I’m very excited to know that my
project has come up to you.
I work in a local association of
Fipe in Bergamo and I am the mom of
a child with a rare disease, called
Angelman Syndrome.
Because of this disease, my daughter
Emma cannot speak.

3. Emma and the other children with
autism and these kind of cognitive
problems use to communicate a
language in symbols called
“Augmentative and Alternative
Communication”. They can communicate
with those who don’t know only
through their parents or carers and
with the support of a book or a
digital communicator.
Once I thought it would be nice to
find our symbols in bars and
restaurants.

4. In this way the children could make
their orders to the waiters without
any help, indicating the symbol of
what they want.
I explained my idea to my family
association, Associazione Angelman,
and to the Ceo of Fipe-Bergamo and
in two months we created a placemat
in symbols that was spread in 50
bars and restaurants of Bergamo!
Now, thanks to Fipe and to all of
you, the project could reach several
places and many children.

5. As a Mom I would convey to you our
emotion when we find our placemat in
symbols in a café. Propose the paper
placemat to a customer who needs it
is a simple gesture but it has a
great impact. It means attention,
acceptance and welcome in the full
sense of the term.
Unfortunately, autism spectrum
disorders are constantly growing.

6. Please, help us to spread this
placemat in symbols as much as
possible.
Thank you!
Roberta Martinelli

7. Disability overview: worldwide and Italy
One billion people, or 15% of the world’s
population, experience some form of
disability, and disability prevalence is
higher for developing countries (World
Report on Disability)
About 8 milion people in Italy
experience some form of disability
(European Network for Accessible Tourism)

8. Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that
manifests itself in Children a few months after birth
(onset usually < 3 years of age) and that involves various
kinds of disabilities:
 Developmental delay
 Speech impairment, no or minimal use of words
 Movement or balance disorder
The sick, about one child out of 12 thousand, do not
speak, they suffer from frequent epileptic crises and
suffer from severe motor problems and cognitive.
Angelman syndrome

9. Placemat

10. Next steps at national level
FIPE appreciated this local initiative of great social value and decided
to implement it, making it accessible even to those who do not
know the Italian language, such as worldwide tourists, and to
proceed to its spread throughout the national territory
Placemat for tourists
It contains, in addition
to the images, the
English translation of
the dishes and drinks

11. Next steps at national level
The project consists of the spreading of these placemats to all local
association of Fipe and to involve local bars and restaurants, with
the aim to present this initiative to the Italian Ministry of Health.
Many local associations from the north to the south of Italy
appreciated this initiative and they are spreading the placemats to
their members (Lombardia, Sicilia, Lazio (Roma), Puglia, Emilia-
Romagna, etc.). Also canteens, local health boards and other
regional Institutions appreciated the initiative.
We are working to spread more and more this project.

12. Thank you for your attention