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Description
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.
Summary of project results
The project responded to the problem of social exclusion of people with disabilities. Prejudices and stereotypes about disability, communication and infrastructural barriers lead to marginalisation and make it difficult for people with disabilities to find jobs, get an education and self-fulfillment. They often have very limited social relationships and a small circle of friends and feel lonely. The low number of interpersonal contacts affects social functioning, both within the family, friends and wider groups. Lack of autonomy, independence and agency in shaping their own lives is also a problem. Meanwhile, regional and local institutions which work with people with disabilities focus largely on social support but not on empowerment.
A group of self-advocates, 35 people with disabilities, was formed and took part in workshops to improve social and self-advocacy skills, thematic training on legal basics and rights and responsibilities of active citizenship. Visits to institutions such as the bank, post office, town hall, rehabilitation and medical centre, shops were organised and 33 carers attended training sessions. Specialist counselling - legal, psychological and nutritional - was provided to all participants. A training session was also organised for advocates for persons with disabilities and representatives of institutions supporting people with disabilities. A social campaign on self-determination and empowerment of people with disabilities was conducted. Its elements included articles, posters, two photo sessions with project participants and films. Standards were developed in the form of recommendations and proposals for changes in the new strategy of the city of Kędzierzyn-Koźle, including activities for the empowerment of people with disabilities.
The main result of the project is undoubtedly the empowerment of people with disabilities from the Kędzierzyn-Kozle district. 35 people with disabilities received specific support and formed a self-advocacy group. They gained useful knowledge and skills needed to speak and act on their own behalf. 33 people caring for and working with people with disabilities broadened their knowledge of the legal basis and social rehabilitation, support for people with disabilities and their empowerment. The whole community of the Kędzierzyn-Kozle district, to which the social campaign was addressed, also benefited from the project.