The project addresses the problem of low availability of free respite care for carers of people with disabilities. Data from the City Social Welfare Centre in Lodz (2019) shows that 25,274 people in Lodz who did not take up or gave up employment to take care of a loved one requiring daily support, received respite care benefits. The forms of support currently available, including psychological support or assisted living, are very limited and, in reality, few people can benefit from them. This in turn means that the total responsibility for caring for people with disabilities falls on their relatives, most often family, parents or children. An inefficient system promotes exhaustion and burnout.

The project provided various types of support to carers of people with disabilities. Firstly, they could benefit from respite caregiver support at home or at the foundation’s premises, psychological support and psychotherapy, as well as transport for dependents. 12 people prepared for self-advocacy activities by participating in trainings (e.g. psychological, self-advocacy and PR workshops), preparing texts or giving interviews, and working on a self-advocacy handbook (the handbook was published in the form of an e-book). A co-operative of self-advocates has also been set up. 6 self-advocates were actively involved in the ‘Our Ombudsman’ initiative, and several spoke in traditional and social media about the situation of carers of people with disabilities.

20 carers of people with disabilities benefited from the project. Through respite support, these people were able to rest, recover and strengthen their mental condition. 12 people were prepared to carry out self-advocacy activities and publicly address the difficulties faced by carers of people with disabilities.