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Description
The Śląskie Voivodship Social Policy Strategy 2020-2030 recommends developing support for people with intellectual disabilities at the place of residence. We know from studies conducted in 2020 that institutions providing support do not have activities aimed at empowering this group, while community activity of people with intellectual disabilities is below their needs and potential. On the other hand, Youth Care Centre studies show that although there is little youth community engagement, 82% of respondents would like to be more active in the community, including supporting people with intellectual disabilities.This project addresses the problem of lack of measures to include people with intellectual disabilities in community life and young people’s needs with respect to a role in effective and long-term voluntary work.We will develop and test the Unconventional Volunteer Work methodology (persons with intellectual disabilities assisted by young people) in cooperation with local institutions. We will train participants to be active in the form of youth workshops (communication, empathy in relationships, forming boundaries, resolving difficult situations, motivating) and voluntary work training for people with intellectual disabilities and young people (interpersonal skills, formal dialogue, autonomous decision coaching, personal presentation, voluntary work). We will hold study visits and start a self-help group. We will conduct one-on-one diagnoses of volunteers in cases of adapted voluntary work intermediation. We will provide mentoring support for community initiatives and voluntary activities in institutions.Thirty people with intellectual disabilities and fifteen young people (aged 16-30) will participate.The methodology will be developed and implemented to make people with intellectual disabilities more active in the community.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the lack of activities involving people with intellectual disabilities and young people in social life and voluntary activities. The reasons of this problem are the lack of care and support for people with disabilities outside their place of residence and stigmatisation. The Social Policy Strategy of the Silesian Voivodeship for 2020-2030 recommends developing support for people with intellectual disabilities in their place of residence. In turn, research from the Youth Education Centre shows that although the social involvement of young people is low, up to 82% would like to be socially involved.
The project developed a non-standard volunteering methodology and piloted it by supporting people with intellectual disabilities in social activities with participation of young people. This model takes into account the needs of people with intellectual disabilities and the young people accompanying them, as well as the possibilities and limitations of local institutions. Volunteering took place in teams of three people (two people with disabilities and one young person). The model was tested and subsequently implemented. A total of 12 volunteering activities were implemented. A total of 45 volunteers took part in the project, including 30 people with intellectual disabilities from the Social Care Home in Lubliniec and 15 people aged 16-18 from the Youth Education Centre in Herby. These individuals took part in preparatory training and underwent a diagnosis to learn about their strengths. More than a dozen local institutions and NGOs were also involved in the project. Six study visits were organised to learn about the work of social cooperatives and other social economy entities involved in the activation of people at risk of social exclusion, including people with disabilities.
Thanks to the activities carried out, the social activity of people with intellectual disabilities and the young people accompanying them has increased. Both groups were strengthened and learned to initiate and carry out social activities, increased their sense of agency and developed cooperation skills. They also managed to break down harmful stereotypes about the potential of people with intellectual disabilities - both among the local community and various local institutions.