It would be more accurate to say “lodging-camping,” because, as you’ll see reading these pages, it’s not a camp under tents for everyone; some — usually the youngest — sleep in tents, while others — adults and even severely disabled young people — stay in houses.
The word “camp” here means “living together” during vacation tie (for a week, ten, fifteen days). Together: friends, children, teenagers, adults with disabilities, some parents or adult friends, priests or seminarians (when available).
We thought of presenting to our readers an experience that many of us have had for several years, within the Faith and Light movement. We found it interesting to propose it in this issue of Ombre e Luci, certainly not exhaustively — a volume would not be enough — to demonstrate, to those interested, how it’s possible to vacation together.
The Joy of Living Together
There has been much talk about the difficulties encountered by people with disabilities and families with a disabled child in being well received in holiday places, in hotels… and I know from personal experience how hard it is to vacation in a place where you don’t feel welcome, often just tolerated (which is a whole different thing!).
Integration has made many steps forward in recent years, in schools, parishes, work… but alas, how much there is still to do! I believe it’s truly important for every young person with a disability, for every “different” family to be able to experience the joy of living together:
- where one feels at ease
- where walks through villages, on beaches, mountains, meadows, paths… are done without fear of unfriendly looks;
- where going to get a pizza in a restaurant full of people becomes a real pleasure, because friends support, are not afraid of certain situations, embarrassing if you’re alone…
- where every moment of the day is rich with signs of solidarity, simplicity, spontaneity.
Then one forgets about fears, hesitations: “I prefer going to the village, where everyone knows us…” “I’ve been living this life forever anyway.” “Us, where do you think we can go with him…”.
where moreover sufferings remain as do tensions, angers, fatigue… of one and the other;
where, inevitably, the relationship with some young people is difficult, unpleasant;
where, sometimes, one doesn’t sleep as desired, because some child, at night, sings, shouts, cries…
But everything becomes easier, more cheerful because we’re together and it’s easier to defuse situations and be able to say to someone: “Give me a break, I need to take a little walk”.
A Testimony to Shout from the Rooftops
I assure you that when I found myself at camp breathing in the freedom of being myself, I forgot about past “bad” vacations and understood that we needed to make the Faith and Light camp a testimony to shout from the rooftops!
I remember, at one of the first camps, many years ago, the amazement of a local doctor, called for a disabled child who had a bit of fever. Looking out the window of the room where we were, which overlooked the garden full, at that moment, of young people and disabled children engaged in an ad hoc treasure hunt, (what a wonder to see friends running with children on their shoulders, or breathlessly pushing a wheelchair cheered on by “come on, go!”) he turned to me and said: “Tell me, madam, how much do you pay these assistants per day?” I corrected him resentfully: “The friends come to vacation and everyone without distinction pays their own share!”
Incredulous, he began to descend the stairs leading to the floor below: “They pay to come and do this service! And for the kitchen, do you have cooks?” “No, we all take turns doing the services.” I can still see him sitting on the step: “This is unbelievable!” And he continued descending: “They pay to come here!”.
This is True Integration
With that here, he meant more. But I couldn’t explain to him in a few minutes the world that we had discovered together and where everyone, without exception, was happy.
This, you see, for me is true integration. I hope you have the experience. And I wait, as usual, for you to write to tell that you too, in the summer of ’89, discovered the beauty of a “camp” together.
– Mariangela Bertolini, 1989
