Abstract: The most important reference in Italian legislation concerning interventions in favour of people with disabilities came about with Law 104 from February 5th 1992 in which the most important rights for disabled people were established. This law led to a new vision,the person with disabilities is no longer seen only a subject needing help but as a person who has the right to live his life in the best possible way that his condition allows him to and thus, it is society's duty and that of the Government, to do everything possible to remove invalidating causes, to promote a disabled person's autonomy and to realise his best social integration possible. To implement what is foreseen by this law it was necessary to activate different important interventions, two of which are very significant: the realisation of Guidelines from the Ministry of Health on rehabilitation activities in which the aims are defined on how rehabilitation should be implemented and how it should be organised on a national level and at a community level. Law 68 from March 12th 1999 decreed the full rights of people with disability to be integrated into the workplace. In the article we will also report some significant data concerning the results of the applications of the law.

Key words: new vision, charity, welfare, rights, autonomy, social integration, rehabilitation guidelines, right to work