Living with motor disability between prejudice and inclusion in today’s society: An observational study

Background: In Italy, more than 3 million people live with a disability. Among them, more than half experience motor impairments. Although attention to disability issues has globally increased in recent decades, literature on this topic remains limited.  The aim of the study is to gather new information on the quality of life and lived experiences of individuals with motor disabilities, with particular focus on factors that may significantly influence their well-being, such as experiences of discrimination and perceived architectural barriers. Materials and Methods: An online survey was conducted and distributed through associations representing people with disabilities across the Italian national territory. These associations shared the survey link with their members. Participants were interviewed about their quality of life, problems related to disability, satisfaction with social and health services, and levels of anxiety and depression. Results: The study results depict a concerning scenario: as the perception of prejudice and architectural barriers increases, quality of life decreases, with depressive symptoms of varying severity. Regarding anxiety symptoms, varying levels were observed in more than half of the respondents (61.8%). Among them, the use of antidepressant and anxiolytic medications increased from 5.55% to 27.3% compared to the period before the onset of disability. A low level of satisfaction emerged regarding employment services, territorial mobility, and accessibility of public spaces. Conclusions: The findings clearly highlight the need for a holistic approach to individuals living with motor disabilities, one that goes beyond the physical condition and takes into account the fundamental role of psychosocial factors. Equally important is a societal shift in the perception of disability, to ensure full inclusion of individuals in all their complexity.