SubscribeScott Rains will keynote a fair focused on the world of disabilities, different from all others in Italy. An event
targeted at people with disabilities, their families and communities, designed for a completely accessible society that includes everyone and offers an independent life for all.
This is the idea behind Reatech Italia, the fair-event that Fiera Milano is organising at the Rho exhibition centre from 24 to 27 May 2012, which will provide an opportunity for meeting and discussion to those working in the fields of disability and rehabilitation. These include institutions and associations, manufacturers and distributers of aids, accessible tourism operators, the sports world, health workers, educators and researchers.
Reatech Italia relies on the over ten years of experience of Reatech Brasile, the leading event in South America that Fiera Milano organizes in San Paolo through its subsidiary Cipa FM. Drawing on its experience in Brazil, Reatech Italia will organise, alongside the traditional "display areas" divided by specific sector, meeting areas for conferences, workshops and educational initiatives as well as areas dedicated to sports, tourism and leisure.
"Reatech," says the CEO of Fiera Milano, Enrico Pazzali, "is a project very dear to our hearts, not only because it is so unique within the national exhibition scene, but also because of its valuable contents and focus on social education".
These are values and goals that explain the great interest in Reatech, which has received support from associations such as the FAND (Federation of National Associations of People with Disabilities) and the FISH (Italian Federation for Overcoming Handicaps), the NPO Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation and institutions such as the Lombardy Region and the Province of Milan.
"Reatech is also," continues Pazzali, "the first instance of a process of internationalization that was not based on the exportation of one of our products but instead the importation of a successful product, which is suitably adapted to our organisation and already established abroad. This is the foundation for a real international company, which Fiera Milano strives to be".
Based on the latest data available from ISTAT (research conducted during 2004-2005), 2,800 thousand people in Italy are affected by disabilities, equal to 4.8% of the population. The WHO (World Health Organisation) has classified these into subjects who are physically confined (25%) or who have functional difficulties (35%), movement difficulties (27%) or visual, hearing or speaking difficulties (13%).
The market potential also includes people who need good accessibility during certain stages of life: children and the elderly, for example, or people with temporary or chronic health problems. Over two million families include one or more people with disabilities and about 200 thousand are instead individuals who live in social health centres. In Europe, however, disabilities directly affect 80 million people while 13% of the world population is affected.
Fiera Milano press office
Sergio Pravettoni +39 0249977428 sergio.pravettoni@fieramilano.it
Fabio Pandolfini +39 0249977676 fabio.pandolfini@fieramilano.it