Assocamp: campers and disabilities

ASSOCAMP, the National Association of Recreational Vehicle and Camping Equipment Operators , took its first action in 2021 to raise awareness among institutions regarding the possibility of extending the 4% VAT relief to the purchase of camper vans for people with disabilities, including the costs necessary for adaptation.

After two years of unanswered appeals, the initiative is entering a second phase: starting today, a video report commissioned by ASSOCAMP in collaboration with IDM – idee in movimento and with the support of Agos is online on the Association's official social media channels ( https://youtu.be/HZr2A7DRDko ). The video explores numerous aspects of vacations for people with disabilities and the potential use of a camper. The video previews the signature drive that will be launched during the Salone del Camper 2023 from September 9th to 17th.

The request remains the same as two years ago, when industry figures and prominent figures in the accessible hospitality world came together, at the initiative of ASSOCAMP, to appeal to institutions and bring this important issue to the attention of the authorities. " The camper represents a moment of escape and, above all, guarantees continuity of living ," explains Ester Bordino, President of Assocamp. " It ensures freedom of movement and the organization of moments of relaxation and respite for people with disabilities and their loved ones. But it's more than that; it's 'emotional continuity,' continuity of familiar and consolidated family habits. In other words, continuity of acquired family security that gives people with psychophysical disabilities peace and serenity, even away from their home, allowing them to fully enjoy their vacation and their loved ones. Many people today still find it difficult to afford the purchase and adaptation of a campervan to their specific needs. There is a law that allows people with disabilities to purchase cars, vans, and even nine-seater minivans, but not a campervan, and this is discrimination we don't understand, because a campervan isn't just a vacation vehicle; it can also be a means of transportation. This is why we are fighting to obtain a 4% VAT relief for campervans as well, which could also become the driving force behind many benefits for the tourism sector ."

To support this thesis, the appeal to the institutions is even stronger today, thanks also to the creation of this video reportage, which ASSOCAMP strongly supported: https://youtu.be/HZr2A7DRDko . Numerous testimonials have been received: parents, expert psychologists, and pet therapy experts, all of whom agree that the camper can be a truly important aid to the peace of mind of these families.

" We believe that children with disabilities, like adults, need emotional continuity during their vacation ," explains Dr. Marta Viappiani, psychologist for the 'Impronte nell'anima ' project. " They need to be able to reconnect with all their loved ones, such as their pets, but also with their homes, because if they know the camper, they obviously know all its spaces as well. This isn't possible in hotels, where it can be difficult. Children with these conditions, especially autistic ones, have various problems related to adapting to these environments; the camper, therefore, becomes essential for emotional continuity: the key to continuing peacefully what could be a pleasant experience for the whole family—that is, the vacation ."

Roberto Schiavolin, Assocamp member, shares his experience: " We use the camper to travel with Marta, a young woman with a disability and her two other sisters. We travel comfortably in the camper, she's fine, she's with us, and we have wonderful holidays. She feels right at home. If she's fine, we're fine too ."

" For us, a camper isn't a luxury or a luxury," adds Franco Musso of the Dogs for Kids Association. "Let's just say it's a necessity for our family situation with two children with disabilities. The reduced VAT is only a small fraction of what they would be entitled to. I think that with the reduced VAT, many people could approach this life a little easier, given all the difficulties we already face ."

" Thanks to this video report, we've seen and heard some testimonials about how campers can be useful to people with disabilities," concludes Ester Bordino . "Beyond being a means of transportation, they're a holiday home to take to the seaside or the mountains, because holidays are a right for everyone. We at Assocamp will continue to fight for institutions to change the law and no longer exclude campers from the reduced 4% VAT category. Currently, the discount applies to cars, mixed-use vehicles (for example, vehicles with up to 9 seats and weighing less than 3,5 tons), and specific vehicles (i.e., vehicles with special permanent equipment to allow the transport of people or goods in particular conditions). In effect, therefore, the only ones excluded are camper vans, because all other categories have long enjoyed it ."

Precisely to give even more strength to the proposal, during the opening days of the Parma Camper Show, from 9 to 17 September 2023, the collection of signatures will be launched at the Assocamp stand and online on Change.org and the petition will then be sent to the Ministry of Disability in the hope that the year can end with the acceptance of this important change in the law.