Maria Periano

Pioneering Italian social entrepreneur who created employment ecosystems for differently-abled adults

After witnessing the institutionalization of her autistic brother, Maria Periano (b.1971) founded Progetto Autismo FVG in 2002 - a network of eco-social enterprises employing neurodiverse adults. Her model combines textile recycling with artisanal production; workers disassemble donated clothes to create new products while receiving therapeutic support.

The Upcycling Workshop in Udine processes 12 tons of textiles annually, with profits funding independent living programs. Periano's radical approach includes:

• Salary structures matching industrial standards
• Co-designed workflow adaptations
• Public showrooms managed by employees

Her 2021 TEDx talk challenged stereotypes by having non-verbal employees co-present through pre-recorded videos. The organization now runs Italy's first autism-friendly B&B in Trieste, where guests learn communication techniques from staff members on the spectrum.