On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the University of Rome “Foro Italico,” CIDIF (Center for Educational Innovation and Training) and the Progetto Filippide association will celebrate International Autism Awareness Day with a meeting to be held at the “G. Marinozzi” Council Chamber of the University of Rome “Foro Italico,” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event will feature experts, athletes and institutional representatives who will share their experiences and reflections on the importance of sports as a tool for inclusion and the centrality of autism awareness in today’s society.
Autism Awareness Day, established by the 2008 United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/62/139, is a key opportunity to raise awareness of the daily challenges faced by people with autism. Sport fits in as a key tool to foster the participation of people with disabilities in society. Indeed, Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities enshrines sports as an inalienable right. Motor activity represents a strategic device for health, education and social and cultural development, and as of April 23, 2024, the Italian Republic “recognizes the educational, social and promotion of psychophysical well-being value of sporting activity in all its forms” (Constitution, Article 33).
The April 2 meeting will also be an opportunity to present the International Event of the Philippine Project, which includes the World Cup Duet Inclusive Artistic Swimming and the Run for Autism Jubileum, to be held April 4-6, 2025.
In addition, an award ceremony will be held for the (s)Muoviamo l’Inclusione contest, organized by the CIDIF of the University of the “Foro Italico” in collaboration with the Laboratory of Special Didactics and Pedagogy of the University of the “Foro Italico,” which will award a prize for the best internship experience on the topic of “Autism at School,” open to the eighth cycle students of the Specialization Course for Support Activities a.y. 2022/2023.
The goal of this day is to raise awareness, promote collaboration between institutions and local entities, and reinforce the message that inclusion is a daily practice that involves every aspect of life, from sports to school, from family to community.
Program
11:00 – Institutional Greetings
Attilio Parisi, Rector of the University of Rome “Foro Italico”
Agron Kasa, Rector of the University of Sport of Tirana
Tonin Gjuraj, Rector of the University of Shkodra
Angela Magnanini, Rector’s Delegate for Disability of the University of Rome “Foro Italico”
“(s)Move Inclusion” Awards Ceremony
12:00 – Greetings from the Minister of Sport Hon. Andrea Abodi
12:15 – Philippine Project International Event Presentation.
Roundtable
Moderator: Federico Pasquali
Speakers:
Alessandro Onorato, Councillor for Major Events, Tourism and Sport of Roma Capitale
Federico Rocca, Capitoline Councillor
Francesca Danese, Spokesperson Forum Terzo Settore
Juri Morico, National President OPES
Sara Kelany, Deputy of the Italian Republic
Nicola Pintus, President of Project Filippide
13:00 – Conclusions
Scientific Committee: Angela Magnanini, Nicola Pintus, Marianna Piccioli, Chiara Pannone, Marta Sánchez Utgé and Lorenzo Cioni
Organizing committee: Chiara Pannone, Tara Behravesh
