THE STORY OF NICCOLÒ

In 2006, Niccolò, a young man with Down syndrome, started an internship at Tacabanda Ristorante in Asti, Italy, owned and operated by brothers Antonio and Egidio De Benedetto. It was the pair’s first experience dealing with a person who had an intellectual disability and they didn’t know what to expect, but it didn’t take long for them to see how Niccolò was flourishing and the remarkable potential he had as a hospitality professional. The De Benedetto brothers suddenly understood the need to remove the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from achieving their full potential. They asked Niccolò one day what he hoped for in the future and he responded: “My dream is to work in a hotel.” The De Benedetto brothers then made it their mission to support Niccolò on his professional journey to achieve his dream, and this led to a permanent program of internships for people with an intellectual disability at the Tacabanda restaurant. Today he lives independently in his home town of Asti and works at Albergo Etico. He has financial independence and the opportunity to teach and mentor other hospitality interns.