During the summer, children and young people with autism often have far fewer chances than their peers to enjoy typical seaside days out. Crowded beach clubs, unfamiliar routines and unstructured social settings can make it difficult for them to take part on equal terms, so families are frequently left to organise these experiences largely on their own.
Finding a place where these children can enjoy the sea and the everyday social life of a beach club, genuinely socialising with other children rather than staying on the sidelines, remains one of the biggest gaps in the summer opportunities available to them.
The project
La Spiaggia che Unisce runs inside Bagni Aurelia, in Cavi di Lavagna, giving children and young people with autism a genuine place of inclusion, one built around the idea that it is the environment that adapts to welcome and value diversity, not the child who has to adapt to fit in. Small groups take part in beach life and activities together, supported throughout by psychologists and educators.
The aim is to offer real opportunities for growth: building social skills, encouraging greater independence, and helping each child feel welcomed and more confident in themselves, all within a setting where they can simply enjoy their summer alongside other children their age.
Who the project is for
The project's direct beneficiaries are around 35 children and young people, who take part in small groups at La Spiaggia che Unisce.
Its impact reaches further, to their parents, who can spend a few hours for themselves in peace, knowing their children are followed by qualified staff, welcomed by the staff and regular guests of Bagni Aurelia, and, above all, having fun.
Project name: La Spiaggia che Unisce
Proposing organisation: ANGSA TIGULLIO ODV
Area of intervention: Inclusion & Social Development
Country: Italy