Italy

Italy 

At a glance

• Italy’s main disability law is Law 104/1992, which guarantees the rights of people with disabilities and their families.
• Italy has signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Key stats

• There are over 2.5 million people in Italy that have a disability. 4.8 per cent of the total population and 44.5 per cent in the age group over 80 years old (Italian National Institute of Statistics).
• In Italy, 80.3 per cent of people with disabilities of working age are unemployed (European Commission).

The law

• Disability legislation:
  • Decree of 30 June 2024 – This provides a new definition of disability (see below) and develops the concept of reasonable accommodations. It also established the National Guarantor Authority, which is empowered to monitor and promote the rights of disabled people.
  • Law 68 (1999) – This law requires employers to hire a certain percentage of disabled workers based on the size of their workforce.
  • Law 104 (1992) – This law aims to promote the rights and integration of people with disabilities.
• Definition of disability: The Legislative Decree of 30 June 2024 defines disability as a physical, mental, intellectual, neurodevelopmental, or sensory impairment that limits a person’s ability to participate in life on an equal basis with others.

 Language

• The official language of Italy is Italian.
• Disability is commonly translated is disabilità.
• With the new definition of disability in Italy, the previous expressions of ‘handicap’ and handicapped person’ is replaced with ‘condition of disability’ and ‘person with disabilities’.

Employment

• Adjustments / accommodations – Both public and private employers are required by law to adopt ‘reasonable accommodations, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in the workplace, to guarantee person with disabilities full equality with other workers.’
• Positive discrimination – Employers are allowed to give preference to disabled candidates during recruitment, to meet their quota.
• Quotas – Law requires employers with more than 15 employees to hire disabled workers. This percentage of disabled employees required increases with the number of employees:
  • An organisation with 15-35 must employ at least one disabled employee.
  • For 36-50, at least two disabled employees must be hired.
  • For an organisation with more than 50 employees, 7 per cent of the total workforce must be disabled.
• Data – Employers must record the numbers of disabled people they employ, in order to meet the legal quota. Employers who don’t meet the legal requirement must pay a compensation fee.
• Incentives – Organisations that hire disabled employees can benefit from tax concessions and a funding scheme to adapt premises and working conditions to the disabled worker.

Built environment

• Establishments that are open to the public must comply with the Law 104 (1992) legislation regarding the removal of architectural barriers. Noncompliance with this legislation causes buildings to be declared as unfit for use.

Digital accessibility

• Stanca Act – Digital accessibility in Italy is governed by the Stanca Act which was enacted in 2004. It ensures that all citizens have equal access to digital services and content, regardless of disability. This legislation applies to both public sector organisations and private businesses.
• European Accessibility Act – As a member of the EU, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) also applies in Italy. This is due to come into effect in July 2025. The EAA mandates a minimum standard of accessibility across a wide range of digital products and services. It applies to public bodies and private businesses. See our guidance on the EAA for more information. 

Country-specific disability organisations

• SuperAbile – An ‘Integrated Contact Centre’ consisting of an online information clearinghouse and a free telephone consultation service.
• Italian Disability Forum – A member of the European Disability Forum, representing the interests of persons with disabilities in Italy. Its aims are to promote recognition and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as non-discrimination and equal opportunities.