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Description
The aim of the project is to increase knowledge and awareness of the rights of people with disabilities who are at risk of discrimination. The direct beneficiaries are people employed by municipal authorities and people working in institutions subordinate to them (institutions of culture, social care centres, community centres) as well as representatives of NGOs, community leaders, children and youth and people with disabilities themselves. Indirectly, we want to influence the inhabitants of the Silesian Province to increase their knowledge on equal treatment of people with disabilities in every area of life. As part of the project, a website will be created with a map on which places with good practices for preventing discrimination against people with disabilities will be marked. We will carry out educational activities, including anti-discrimination training. We will launch a social campaign under the slogan ‘A Day of Dignity’. We will set up a Social Council for preventing discrimination of people with disabilities. We will produce publications and reports and create an ''Ask an Expert'' consultation point for people with disabilities. While implementing the project, we will promote and disseminate legal provisions including: Article 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland regarding equality before the law, the Resolution of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of 1 August 1997 - The Charter of Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The website created within the project will help increase access to information and good practice on the rights of people with disabilities across the local community. The project is implemented in the northern sub-region of the Silesian Province (from October 2021 to September 2023).
Summary of project results
Problem: low level of adaptation of institutions and public places to disabled people
and low awareness of their rights and their use by disabled people in the northern subregion of the Silesian Voivodeship.
An increase in knowledge and awareness of the rights of people at risk of discrimination against people with disabilities (PWD) was noted among representatives of local government units and institutions subordinate to them, NGOs, social leaders and people with disabilities themselves at risk of exclusion in the northern subregion of the Silesian Voivodeship. A Social Council was established, consisting of representatives of all the PWDs in the subregion. The solutions developed were implemented by individual communes and cities. The project also covered local communities, NGOs and PWDs. Celebrations of the Day of Dignity and a conference were held, where knowledge about counteracting discrimination against PWD was promoted among the local community. Promotional activities were also undertaken by employees of the subregion''s offices, who made presentations on counteracting discrimination and posters promoting the Day of Dignity available to the local community. In addition to systemic solutions, training was also conducted, thanks to which the information about the needs and methods of communicating and dealing with PWDs was constantly raised. Children and young people and representatives of the PWDs participated in workshops on counteracting discrimination against PWDs. The trainings concerned the issues of disability and the Act on ensuring accessibility for people with special needs of 19 July 2019. The disabled themselves also took an active voice in their case. Their opinions and needs were taken into account at every stage. Monitoring was carried out on all cities and communes in terms of their accessibility to the needs of disabled people, and their results were published on the project website. At every stage of implementation, decisions and actions were taken, characterized by the involvement of all interested parties, the rule of law, transparency, responding to social needs, and intergenerational solidarity was taken. Participation in the project was open to all people regardless of gender, origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, level of education or wealth.
The project website www.znamprawo.pl was maintained and updated on an ongoing basis.
Training was conducted for representatives of all municipalities of the northern subregion of the Silesian Voivodeship. Since the beginning of the project, 108 hours of training were conducted for 120 people, i.e. 12 groups x 9 hours. A total of 266 students were supported. During the entire period of project implementation, a total of 126 hours of training were conducted, i.e. 14 groups of 9 hours each.
Two events were held on the occasion of Dignity Day on May 24, 2022 and May 24, 2023. The Dignity Day of People with Intellectual Disabilities and the Day of Combating Discrimination against People with Disabilities were celebrated in all municipalities of the northern subregion of the Silesian Voivodeship.
A total of 10 reports and 10 podcasts were prepared, addressing the topic of counteracting discrimination against people with disabilities and promoting the rights of people with disabilities.
The lawyer provided support, which was used by 93 people in total for 120 hours. The participants of the consultations, i.e. people with disabilities, their families, carers, people from their surroundings, needed legal support in the scope of the following issues: inheritance, handling disability benefits, appeals against issued disability decisions, legal conditions of incapacitation, handling matters in banks and offices, etc. The psychologist provided a total of 120 hours of support for 120 people. The participants of the consultations, i.e. people with disabilities, their families, carers, people from their surroundings, needed support in the following cases: death of a loved one, fears and traumas, coping with stress, respecting the rights of others, sexuality of people with disabilities.