In May 10-12th  2001,  the First National Congress on Disability, Re-habilitation and Integration was held in Padua, Italy.

Prof.Angelo Mantovani  presented the preliminary results of a project  in Milan at S.Paolo Hospital, one of the seats of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Milan.

The project is named DAMA : Disable Advanced Medical Assistance

Goals of the service are :

- direct and free of charge telephone line to a call  center in order to receive advise  or  to make an appointment

- day hospital service

- emergency department

All  facilities and services  support families and  people who have difficulties in communication as well as intellectual disability.

The project started last year informally and was officially opened in April 2001.

It is financially supported by the Region Lombardia and EC funds. It is well connected to the University of Milan, LEDHA ( Italian Federation of associations and organizations for disabled people) and to many Institutions and organizations at a local level.

 

Dr. Anna Piccioni

 

 

To view Dr. Piccioni's presentation - on the history of MAMH - at the Progetto Dama conference in Milan in February 2002, click here

 

'Il Progetto DAMA all' Ospedalo S. Paolo' held a conference on February 22, 2002 with participants from different  European countries - Italy, France, The Netherlands, UK and a representative delegate from the European Union. The purpose of the conference was to hear about different service models in the different countries and about the European Union's commitment to services for people with learning disabilities. 

Prof. A. Mantovani,  supported by Dr. Filippo Ghelma, is the driving force behind this unique concept of supporting  people with learning disabilities with general health needs. We hope that this practice will be spreading to other countries and thereby improve access to  health care and make the experience for the service users and for their families a more pleasurable / successful experience.  

If you would like further information, please contact :

dama@hspsanpaolo.mi.it