For some time, we have seen a decline in the level of activity of parents/carers of persons with disabilities. We wish to counteract these passive attitudes, that are damaging to quality of life of people with disabilities and their relatives. We have also observed a need for support for carers in organizing self-help and self-advocacy, and obtaining knowledge, tools, and a sense of control over their lives.

Our project concerns support and activation of a vulnerable group due to the need to provide constant care for persons with disabilities. In the project, a form of support for carers, combining mutual help and self-advocacy, will be devised, never seen before in that region.

During the project, we will launch self-help groups of parents/carers, who will attend workshops/consultations with specialists, and then will draw up plans for self-advocacy measures relating to certain parenting issues. The groups will work with specialists for instance in the fields of law, psychology, and social rehabilitation. We will also devise a voluntary work program to provide brief respite. We will provide training for volunteers (first aid, caring for adults and children with disabilities) to support measures in the project. We will also organize a Can-Do/ Na Tak march held publicly in Poznań, promoting an active approach within this community and the image of people with disabilities.

60 carers of dependants will receive support, and 40 of these will play a role in the activities of self-help groups. This will lead among other things to 40 self-advocacy measures. A publication summarizing the groups’ work, a brochure, and a film documenting the project will also be produced.