Description
The advocacy of parents who raise children with multiple disabilities is limited in Heves County. The few country-wide organizations have several valuable services however their activities in representation of interests toward local and other decision-makers are limited as they depend on state funds. The objective of the project is to positively change the attitudes of communities about people with disabilities. This will make it visible that what kind of services are missing for ensuring equal chances for families with disabilities. In a long term it contributes to ensure dental care for disabled persons and to regulate the amount of nursing subsidy after seriously disabled people. The system of the organizational development will be a role model for other advocacy organizations. The project aims to strengthen the operation of the organization, to help people becoming active citizens with trainings and to develop the advocacy competencies. The members will build a regional mental assistance community network where the more experienced parents will be mentors. The target group consists of the members of the organization (70 persons).
Summary of project results
In Heves county, the advocacy skills and capacities of parents who raise children with multiple disabilities are very limited both locally and on county level too. There are many valuable services provided by a few country-wide organizations (for example: ÉFOSZ, SINOSZ, MEOSZ, stb.) in this respect, but they don’t do any advocacy on local level. That is why, the project promoter, the Alliance of Parents of Children with Multiple Disabilities, concluded a thorough organizational development process in order to enhance its advocacy skills and capacities. They tried to get in touch with all local concerned families who are not their member currently, and launched a communication campaign in two important themes (re: care fee and dental care), they organized affirmative programs for parents and took part at several professional processes related to helping clients moving out of huge institutions. They successfully raised their membership, and strengthen their members skills, and knowledge related to advocacy. Altogether 140 parents were actively involved into these development programs, processes.The project promoter took part at different advocacy focused training programs as well, organized by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and Civic Collegium where they could meet with organizations facing similar challenges and with similar objectives. These trainings also strengthened the capacities of the organization, and their relationships, contacts were improved as well.
Summary of bilateral results