According to the report Study on needs of people with disabilities (PFRON, 2017), 48% people with disabilities have a very narrow circle of friends (up to 5 people). This low level of interpersonal contact has implications for their social functioning and hinders engagement in and fulfilment of social roles, in people’s private lives and later in professional life.
The main aim of the project is to make self-reliant and empower people with disabilities.
We will form a self-advocate group, and organize for that group workshops that help to improve community and self-advocacy skills, and training on specific topics relating to legal bases and rights and obligations that follow from an active civic approach. We will organize visits to institutions such as banks, clinics, and the town hall. Through workshops, we will improve parents’ and carers’ knowledge – with regard to providing support for people with disabilities, personal development, options regarding legal assistance, and institutional support. We will give all of the participants an opportunity to talk to specialists such as a lawyer, dietician, and psychologist. We will also provide training for employees at the Center for Professional Activeness and people with whom we collaborate on support through participation for people with disabilities. We will prepare a social campaign on the right of people with disabilities to live independently as individuals. The results and effects of the project will be collated in recommendations and submitted to local government authorities.
The project is intended for people with disabilities (18+) and their carers in the Kędzierzyn-Koźle poviat.
Under the project, 30 people with disabilities will receive support and form a self-advocacy group, and 30 carers and 12 people who work with people with disabilities will improve their knowledge on legal bases and social rehabilitation.