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Description
Both research and the reality of recent years show that the rights of people on the autism spectrum in Poland are not fully respected. Our project is based on the data from our own diagnosis of the problem. We will support NGOs working for the people on the autism spectrum in the Lesser Poland Province. They will be provided with knowledge of the rights of people with ASD, including the creation and application of laws by authorities at various levels of government, and those people’s access to necessary services. We will also support those organisations that would like to use our model of work. We want to prepare individuals and organisations to take actions aimed at the enforcement of people with disabilities rights, and at counteracting structural discrimination. The project is implemented in the Lesser Poland Province, but a social campaign will be carried out throughout the country. We will conduct training on working with people with ASD. The NGOs participating in the project will gain knowledge in the field of anti-discrimination, advocacy, and awareness building among local communities. 4 organisations will gain more knowledge on how to run a permanent residence facility. We will organize 7 team-building meetings in sub-regions of the Lesser Poland Province. At the end of the project, we will elaborate a report on the current situation of the support system for people on the autism spectrum. The project will help to strengthen cooperation between organisations in Lesser Poland in the area of advocacy for the rights of people on the autism spectrum and their equal treatment. It will allow both local authorities and citizens to better understand people with ASD and their rights. As a result, people with ASD will be able to act better in society.
Summary of project results
The project To understand and to support - protecting the rights of people with ASD was implemented by the Community of Hope Foundation (www.farma.org.pl) in the period 2021-12-01 - 2023-08 -31. The project was aimed at strengthening Polish (with particular emphasis on the Lesser Poland Voivodeship) organizations and local communities in the field of enforcing the rights of adult people with ASD (autistic spectrum disorders) by providing necessary support adequate to the needs, including in the creation and application of law by various authorities. level and access to services, taking into account the currently prepared deinstitutionalization process and in terms of better understanding of the rights of people with ASD and equal treatment by the general public through a social campaign throughout the country.
As part of the activities carried out:
• 240 people were trained during 11 stationary training sessions;
• 17 people (representatives of 5 NGOs from all over Poland) improved their knowledge on running a 24-hour facility for people with ASD;
• 7 integration meetings/campaigns/events were held (in the subregions of Lesser Poland) attended by a total of 796 people;
• 12 working meetings were held (onsite and online) as part of the exchange of experiences (Autism-Poland) and 3 online working meetings with the participation of 3 leading European organizations dealing with adults with autism spectrum disorder (from Spain (Autismo Bizkaia) , Luxembourg (Fondacion Autisme Luxembourg) and Denmark (Landsforeningen Autisme - Denmark)
• a legal analysis was carried out, a report was prepared and made available - Where is the support system for people with ASD heading? The REPORT in PDF format is available at https://farma.org.pl/fundacja/dokumenty/.
• 8 study visits were carried out, including 4 by representatives of the Foundation to institutions that are preparing to launch permanent residence places for people on the autism spectrum in Poland, 3 to Farma Życia in Więckowice for NGOs, 1 to Oslo ( Stiftelsen Radarveien and FFO;
• a nationwide social campaign and a number of local activities were carried out, social campaigns on human rights reached a total of 19,694,757 people.
Additionally, a number of activities were carried out to strengthen the institutional framework of the Community of Hope Foundation
• 240 people benefited from new or improved forms of support under the project - employees of facilities run by NGOs, family members and guardians of people with disabilities (ASD), - the skills of people and NGOs developed;
• cooperation between organizations supporting people with ASD was strengthened at the regional level, 11 training sessions and 7 integration meetings - campaigns/parties/events (carried out in subregions in Małopolska), representatives of wide local communities and authorities participated in regional meetings;
17 people who improved their knowledge on running a 24-hour facility for people with ASD;
• 1 regional network of non-governmental organizations equipped with knowledge in the field of anti-discrimination, advocacy activities and building awareness among local communities;
• 5 organizations stated that they had improved their knowledge in the field of organizing a facility providing permanent residence for adults with ASD;
• 7 integration meetings/campaigns (held in subregions in Małopolska) attended by a total of 796 people;
• 12 working meetings (onsite and online) as part of the exchange of experiences (Autism-Poland) and 3 online working meetings with the participation of 3 leading European organizations dealing with adults with autism spectrum disorder (from Spain, Luxembourg and Denmark)
• 8 study visits, including 4 of the Foundation''s representatives to institutions that are preparing to launch permanent residence places for people on the autism spectrum in Poland, 3 to the Life Farm in Więckowice for NGOs, 1 study visit of 4 people to Oslo;
• 1 national policy/legal act influenced by the project - through intensive participation in work on the concept of Supported Housing Communities - WSM
• 19,694,757 people were reached by social campaigns regarding human rights Let them come true - this is an important message addressed to the general public.