By Anna Decandia – ENIL’s ESC Volunteer
Hello everyone!
I’m Anna, I’m 25, and I’ve recently moved from Northern Italy to join the ENIL Brussels Office as the new ESC volunteer!
As a full-time wheelchair user and a big fan of European exchange programs, I couldn’t have been more excited when I saw ENIL’s call, and I knew right away that I had to apply!
Looking back, the road that actually led me to ENIL began in 2019, when I started university and got to experience what Independent Living means. In fact, I moved to an accessible room in a student residence, where I lived by myself with the support of a PA for some hours a week for the first time. This arrangement not only enabled me to achieve a level of independence that previously seemed unattainable, but it also empowered me to apply for and participate in two ERASMUS+ projects, which took me to Nantes, France, for nine months and to Montreal, Canada, for four months. These experiences were truly life-changing: they pushed me even further outside of my comfort zone and taught me how to advocate for my needs and rights effectively.
Driven by this newfound awareness and these skills, I decided to channel my energy into advocacy. Therefore, I began collaborating with the Italian organization for people with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, working on a regional, national (as a Board Member), and European level. Alongside this, I became involved with the Paralympic Movement, volunteering at the Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games, as well as supporting my university’s wheelchair basketball team.
When the time came to write my Bachelor’s and Master’s theses (I have completed my Master’s Degree in European and American Languages and Literatures a few months ago!), I used the opportunity to connect my firsthand experience with an academic framework. By focusing on disability representations in English and American literature, I became deeply familiar with the field of Disability Studies, explored critical approaches—such as the medical and social models—and studied the history of the disability civil rights movement.
However, I know I still have much to learn—especially regarding European policymaking and how it impacts individual Member States—and there is no better place to acquire this knowledge than ENIL. Ultimately, I want to bring the insights I gain back to Italy and perhaps even expand my advocacy to a broader level.
But for now, I’m so glad to be here in Brussels and I couldn’t be happier about this six-month collaboration with ENIL!
