It comes from City of Castello the first tourist guide ai Paths of St. Francis made with Augmentative Alternative Communication (CAA). It’s called “In Caammino with Francesco” and it is a tool for everyone, immediate and pleasant to consult. Through writing in symbols it has the power to break down communication barriers, which, even on religious paths, can stand in the way of people with difficulties related to language, relationships and writing, preventing them from experiencing experiences with awareness and autonomy.
Its peculiarity is that it is the result of the work of a team of young people with disabilities who experience exactly the needs to which the guide responds. A group that, as part of the “La Città su Misura” project promoted by Municipality of Città di Castelloin the last five years he has already created three brochures in CAA for the Laghi di Spada naturalistic area in 2021, for the Burri Museum – former Tobacco Dryers in 2022 and for the “La Valle di Signorelli” museum system in 2023, the latter experience which even attracted the attention of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarellafrom which the protagonists of the project were received by none other than Quirinale.
From the rooms of the Quirinale to the dream of the Vatican: writing in symbols on the steps of the Saint
A road to Rome that the authors of the guide dedicated to Saint Francis now hope to be able to travel again to make a gift to Pope Leo XIV of issue zero of this exceptional publication. The secret dream that accompanied their work for months and animated the most challenging days with so much hope.
For the last “effort” dedicated to Saint Francis on the eight hundredth anniversary of his death, the team expanded and modified, but above all collaborated for the first time with the students of the secondary schools of Città di Castello. A leap in quality, which has its added value in the sharing, in the concrete and real choral work, hitherto unheard of, between the world of school and the social world.
A training path between peers, which was enriched and enhanced by the exchange of knowledge and experiences between students, teachers, educators, young people with disabilities, professionals and volunteers. A real opportunity for growth: each of the protagonists, in fact, came into contact with an alternative way of communicating, each gave their contribution, taught and learned from the other.
A choral synergy: the educational alliance between local and social schools
The creation of “In CAAmmino con Francesco” involved, under the direction and with the support of the departments of Social Policies and Educational Services and of the Municipality of Città di Castello through the manager Brunella Bologni, teachers and students of all the public and private secondary schools in Tiferna (IIS “Patrizi Baldelli Cavallotti”, Technical Center “Franchetti Salviani”, Liceo Plinio il Giovane; Liceo St. Francis de Sales), young people with disabilities who attend the KREOO socio-health laboratory (promoted by Local health authority Umbria 1 and Municipality of Città di Castello), private social educators, a speech therapist expert in AAC, the “Le Rose di Gerico” association and the Diocese of Città di Castello.
Gino Maria Landi, Nizar Douari, Toufik Fekkak, Mirko Pietosi, Alberto Marinelli, Matteo Ricci, Enrico Cecci, Elisa Occhineri, Giacomo Milanesi, Anna Pannacci, Giacomo Testi, Camilla De Santis and Shermina Rama made up the working team of young people with disabilities of the KREOO socio-health laboratory. The educators of the school worked with them La Rondine Cooperative: Valentina Rossi (coordinator), Anita Meozzi Anita, Gaia Giogli, Eleonora Fatti, Giacomo Gragnoli, Luca Signorelli, Ilaria Serpolini, Alessandra Valori. The supervision of the AAC texts was carried out by the speech therapist Letizia Giovagnini.
Also on this occasion, the initiative had the support of GALA Supermercati and the “I Fiori di Lillà” association, who generously supported an important part of the work of the Kreoo laboratory and of the supervision activity of the text in CAA. The printing work and packaging of the guide were handled by Cartoedit Srl.
From theory on the benches to stages in the field: the journey between Umbria and Tuscany
From January to June 2026, the “In CAAmmino con Francesco” project developed in schools with a training course of three meetings carried out by students with the “peer to peer learning” method, in which the knowledge of Augmentative Alternative Communication was deepened, but the other aspects of the project were also explored, from the life of Saint Francis to the Paths named after him, also making use of the collaboration of external experts who added their different knowledge.
The training meetings were followed by cognitive and exploratory field trips, dedicated to the discovery, understanding and documentation of the various stages of the journey, in Tuscany and Umbria. Among the places visited were the Sanctuary of La Vernathe Hermitage of Montecasale, the Hermitage of Good Rest, the Pieve de Saddi, up to the Basilica of Assisi.
The work was enriched with the study in the library of the figure of Saint Francis and the episodes of his life, with the drafting of the guide texts, their translation into CAA, the research and selection of photos, the preparation of the maps of the stages, useful information for users, the graphic layout.
The generational bridge and the institutional commitment to inclusion
“As the municipal administration we are happy and proud to be part of this extraordinary journey, which makes our community feel more in tune with the needs of others and more capable of sharing commitments and objectives. A great school of life for our young people, which teaches them to truly overcome every barrier, cultural and physical, but also leads to building a generational bridge with adults for a more inclusive city”, the mayor underlined this morning Luca Secondithe councilor for Social Policies Benedetta Calagreti and the councilor for Educational Services Letizia Guerri on the occasion of the public presentation of the guide “In CAAmmino con Francesco” at the Sant’Antonio auditorium, in which they took part together with the manager of the municipal sectors involved Giuliana Zerbato.
“The meeting between the innovative experiences of our social services and the cutting-edge planning of our school system – observed the mayor and councilors – is an extraordinary added value of the guide dedicated to Saint Francis, which traces a new path at the service of initiatives that focus on solidarity, the common good, the civil response of a community to the needs of the most fragile people. The wonderful young people with disabilities protagonists of this experience, who for years have amazed us with their work and their passion, stronger than every limit and difficulty, give us the measure of the infinite possibilities that a community can have when it works together. The guide for pilgrims and tourists along the paths of San Francesco is the calling card of a welcoming and inclusive Città di Castello, the precious gift of the commitment of those who were protagonists for those who cross our territory in the footsteps of the spirituality of the patron saint of Italy. Thank you very much for this wonderful gift to all those who have given their contribution”.
The regional vision: an accessible model to be extended to the entire territory
The exceptional nature of the message that comes from the guide also touched the sensitivity of the president of the Umbria region Stefania Proiettiwho, although unable to participate in this morning’s event, wanted to dedicate a video message to all the protagonists of the project, speaking from a symbolic place like the Basilica of Assisi on the eve of the celebrations of the Feast of Saint Francis.
“What you are doing today – said Proietti – is so precious that it truly deserves the applause of our entire region. The guide Walking with Francis is a guide as all should be. You have worked with the Augmentative Alternative Communication to make the Franciscan places truly accessible to everyone. And, look, by presenting it on 3 October, the day of the Transit of Saint Francis, you remind us how much we are all exposed to fragility”.
The President of the Region recalled the work for the definition of the “Umbria for all” action plan, underlining how the project “will look at inclusion, but also at promoting and implementing everyone’s rights, thinking not only of people with disabilities, but of all of us who may have temporary fragility or simply move towards an older age”.
“Umbria must be everyone’s city, a tailor-made city. This is why – announced Proietti – I will ask you to come and present yourself at the offices of Donini Palace this beautiful project of the guide to Francesco’s paths in CAA, extending it to all of Umbria. We are truly privileged to have so many saints who point us in the direction. Santa Margherita, which is right there in Città di Castello, shows us the direction that disability must be the line to aim for for us to implement and promote everyone’s rights, because if we build a world and a region tailored to fragility, that region will truly be a region for everyone. Let’s do it together. Thank you for this beautiful project.”
The bishop of Città di Castello Monsignor Luciano Paolucci Bedini highlighted that “This project reminds us that walking in the footsteps of Francis means first of all learning to recognize each person, with their uniqueness, as a precious part of the community. Making words, places and experiences accessible is not just breaking down a barrier, but creating opportunities for meeting, participation and fraternity. It is beautiful that it is young people, together, who show us a path capable of leaving no one behind”.
