Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – The first digital training program for third sector organizations working with people with disabilities and their families, promoted by Amazon and the Minister for Disabilities, Alessandra Locatelli, and developed in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Management, concluded in September. The program provided participating organizations with the skills and tools to navigate the digital landscape, promote their products and services through online channels, and develop new opportunities for growth and sustainability.
Over 120 third sector organizations have signed up for the program—50 of which have already completed the program—for a total of 160 registered participants. Participating organizations range from nationally recognized association networks and regional branches to organizations rooted in local communities, with a broad geographic distribution across the country and a particularly significant presence in Lombardy, Veneto, Campania, Puglia, and Basilicata.
The largest group works in the areas of intellectual disability, autism, and neurodevelopmental disorders, with programs dedicated to independence, training, employment inclusion, and family support. Alongside these organizations, there are organizations working on issues related to deafness, Down syndrome, motor and acquired disabilities, accessibility to inclusive sports and art, as well as associations active in community welfare, the protection of vulnerable individuals, and the fight against gender-based violence.
The initiative represents the first implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Amazon and Minister Locatelli last June at ExpoAid 2026, with the aim of promoting inclusion and supporting the digital transformation of third sector organizations. The underlying belief is that acquiring new digital skills can help third sector organizations not only enhance their work, but also diversify their opportunities, strengthen their autonomy, and expand their capacity to generate social impact over time.
"We are concretely following up on the collaboration initiated with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. Providing third sector organizations with tools and expertise to strengthen their daily work supporting people with disabilities and their families is essential to building more inclusive and accessible communities. Supporting these organizations' ability to innovate means helping to create new opportunities, nurturing talent, and promoting the full participation of every individual. We will continue to work together to develop projects capable of generating a tangible impact on communities and individuals," said Alessandra Locatelli, Minister for Disabilities.
"We are proud to have launched this first digital training program together with the Minister for Disabilities and the Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Management. For years, Amazon has supported thousands of small and medium-sized Italian businesses on their digital transformation journey. With this initiative, we wanted to put this experience and these tools at the service of non-profit organizations, adapting them to their needs and supporting them in developing skills that strengthen their autonomy, sustainability, and their ability to generate value. We believe that digital technology can be a concrete lever to help organizations that support people with disabilities and their families every day better communicate their activities, reach new communities, and build stronger models over time," said Giorgio Busnelli, Country Manager of Amazon Italy.
The sessions, curated by the Polimi Graduate School of Management, guided participants through a progressive journey, designed to be accessible even to those without advanced digital or business skills. The first meeting introduced the basics of the business model, focusing on strategy, innovation, digital transformation, and value creation. The second session explored the omnichannel customer journey, highlighting the importance of integrating physical, digital, and social channels to design consistent and engaging experiences, identifying the key touchpoints with users, beneficiaries, and potential supporters.
The third session focused on the most recent developments in digital retail, with a focus on artificial intelligence and social commerce. The opportunities offered by content, communities, influencers, and online conversations in building preferences were analyzed, along with the role of generative AI in supporting personalization, product discovery, and purchasing decisions. The fourth session, hosted directly by Amazon, explored the use of the marketplace and the tools available for approaching online sales, offering practical guidance for understanding how the services work and evaluating the opportunities associated with marketing one's products online.
Amazon and the Minister for Disabilities continue their collaboration to put innovation and skills at the service of the Third Sector, creating new opportunities for autonomy, participation, and inclusion.
In Italy, Amazon has been promoting projects dedicated to the workplace inclusion of people with disabilities for years, developed with the support of specialized associations and organizations at the national and local levels. These include the program launched in 2022 in collaboration with the National Association for the Deaf, which has led to the hiring of over 200 Deaf employees in the Italian logistics network and the introduction of solutions to make work environments more accessible, including Italian Sign Language training, tablets for simultaneous interpretation, and vibrating safety devices.
The company has also launched programs dedicated to the employment of autistic and neurodivergent people, in collaboration with associations such as Autismo Abruzzo Onlus, and projects for people with cystic fibrosis, developed together with the Italian Cystic Fibrosis League, through specific organizational solutions and accessibility standards.
Amazon's commitment to inclusion also extends to communities. In 2025, the company, in collaboration with athletes from the Italian Paralympic Committee, promoted a project to bring together and engage in dialogue in Italian schools, involving over 700 students in five areas where Amazon operates fulfillment centers.
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