Turning limits into possibilities by always seeking new solutions: Veronica Ruggeri meets Silvia Botticelli
Sometimes, strength hides in the simplest gestures — in a smile that never fades and in a deeply personal way of facing challenges.
Just like Silvia Botticelli, the protagonist of the third episode of Storie da Raccontare, the Stellantis Autonomy series in which Veronica Ruggeri meets people who have transformed disability into a new form of freedom.
Silvia is a young woman who grew up among the hills of Umbria. She was born with a congenital malformation: she only has thumbs on both hands. For a long time, this made her feel different and pushed her to hide.
“When I was little, I was the girl with crab hands. I don’t think they meant to be mean tough — maybe just curious,” she says with the smile of someone who has learned to look at herself with kindness.
“Back then, accepting myself wasn’t easy. Today, I’ve almost made it. Almost — because sometimes I see myself reflected in the eyes of children: they look at you and stare for so long. They don’t criticize with their words, but with their eyes.”
Despite everything, Silvia never gave up.
“My disability limits me in some ways,” she says, “but I deal with those limits by always trying to find a new solution.”
The turning point came five years ago, when she discovered TikTok. She started for fun, then realized that the videos she shared could become a way to tell her story, her everyday life and her determination.
Sharing her experience helped her regain confidence and feel part of a community built on empathy and solidarity: “Thanks to social media, many people have started to accept me for who I am.”
Determined, ironic, and full of energy, Silvia now faces each day as a small victory. And she keeps looking ahead: “The next challenge I want to face? Climbing a mountain. Constant growth, one challenge at a time.”
Her story is a tribute to resilience and positivity — proof that strength doesn’t come from being perfect, but from finding a new way to make it through every single day.
At Stellantis Autonomy, we believe in this spirit — in the freedom to face challenges, to find solutions, to live one’s uniqueness to the fullest.
Because autonomy is made of courage, creativity, and the small, great gestures of everyday life — just like Silvia’s.
Watch now the new episode of Storie da Raccontare — Silvia Botticelli’s story is here to inspire you.
