Description
People with disabilities and their families living in rural areas of Poland have difficult access to specialized legal counseling and information about their rights and entitlements. The objective of the project is to empower vulnerable groups by reaching out to people with disabilities and their families in rural areas with civic rights counseling at the level of specialized legal advice. This will be achieved by implementing new channels for advisory services: via Skype, e-mail, and during home visits. Advice will also be provided on site, by mail and on the phone. As a result, the quality of life of vulnerable groups will be improved. The project will benefit people with disabilities and their families living in three districts of Podlaskie Voivodeship.
Summary of project results
"Experience of the Organization proves that people with disabilities and members of their families from Łomża and hajnowski, łomżyński and zambrowski counties have decreased access to social assistance in a form of professional legal counseling and information on laws and rights. County family assistance centers obliged to offer such support don't provide it to a sufficient extent. People with disabilities and members of their families belong to a group particularly vulnerable to social exclusion. Due to poor education and usually difficult financial situation they are left on the margin of social life, they are passive and not able to solve problems, especially the ones of legal nature. Thus, they need access to free of charge and comprehensible legal and citizens' advice. The objective of the project was to increase access of disabled people and their families' members from 4 counties of Podlaskie Voivodeship to professional legal counseling and information about laws and rights. Thanks to the project implementation 900 persons received 977 pieces of advice granted by experienced advisors Citizens Advice Bureau in Łomża. People could go to the CAB or to the Citizens Advice Office in Zambrów run in co-operation of the Family Support Center. Access to advice was also available in a form of phone calls, letters, e-mails and Internet communicator Skype. In co-operation with the District Family Support Centre an online advise Office was founded. Disabled citizens of Łomża, who are not able to leave their homes have been offered advice in their homes. Beneficiaries of the project were 900 disabled people and members of their families from Łomża and the counties: hajnowski, łomżyński and zambrowski. The project partner, Blessed Marianna Biernacka Family Support Centre of the Łomża Diocese in Zambrów, provided the premises for the counseling activity, engaged in the activity promotion and assured service for the people seeking counseling. The District Family Support Centre provided access to the premises and technical facilities for the office of online Office, assured service for the people seeking counseling and took part in the project promotion."
Summary of bilateral results