Marco Rasconi, the man who breaks down disability in a wheelchair
From ALS diagnosis to the fight for inclusion. The story of Marco Rasconi, president of the Italian Union to Fight Muscular Dystrophy
Marco Rasconi is a man who has turned his disability into a mission to break down barriers, not only physical but also social and cultural. Through his tireless efforts, he has demonstrated how mercy and works of mercy can be applied in everyday life, dismantling discrimination against people with disabilities.
Rasconi has made his disability a source of strength, using his personal experience to raise awareness and promote access to opportunities for everyone, regardless of physical challenges.
In the context of the Jubilee, his mission aligns perfectly with the Church’s invitation to live out works of mercy in a tangible way, focusing on the needs of others. His life, marked by a continuous search for justice and equality, serves as a beacon for those seeking to embody the message of love and care in their own lives.
Disability, in this sense, is not seen as an obstacle, but as a call to live with greater compassion and dedication toward others.
First day of work. Empty office. You are sitting at your desk waiting for someone to tell you what to do.
Your colleague walks in. He is also sitting. In an electric wheelchair.
You get up to introduce yourself, but immediately think you should have stayed in your chair to be at his height.
You hold out your hand to him, but he doesn’t move his hands. He only moves his mouth and eyes. The rest of his body is lying on the wheelchair and not even very well, it seems to you, so at first glance. The torso and head go to the right, and the pelvis to the left. The legs are inert and skinny. Very skinny. To tell you the truth, your colleague is skinny.
He, however, does not waste time on pleasantries, introduces himself with a smile, and heads to his desk. He operates the computer via voice commands, while interacting with the smartphone, moving a joystick with one finger of his hand…
(Elena Inversetti, BuoneNotizie.it, Jan. 7, 2025)