Description
The project addresses the failure to provide children and young people with disabilities with access to water rehabilitation due to its high cost and few providers. The project aims at improving the physical and psychological state of 30 children and young people with motor and mental disabilities in Plovdiv City by means of water rehabilitation and adapted swimming. First, the expert team will have individual meetings and select 30 participants, study their condition, capacity, skills and prepare 30 individual rehabilitation programmes. Second, the children/young people will have 64 classes of water rehabilitation/adapted swimming for 8 months twice per week. Finally, the participants’ efforts will be recognized and celebrated at the awarding ceremony. The project will benefit the 30 children/young people with disabilities involved, their families, teachers as well as the local community in general.
Summary of project results
The project aimed at creating a favourable environment to improve the physical and psycho-emotional condition of children and young people with disabilities through the application of an innovative service – aquatic rehabilitation and modified swimming. In the course of the activities, the children and young people developed their motor skills and habits, boosted their immune system, communicated in a different environment and took genuine pleasure from active exercise. The children and young people will continue with their preferred way of therapy and rehabilitation after the project. The service will be provided with the support of funding from other programmes, the municipal budget of Plovdiv Municipality and giving campaigns. The trainers and specialists trained and the changed attitudes of the public will ensure access to the service in the future as well. Partnership with organizations and teachers from the National Sports Academy made it possible to include a large number of children and young people in the tested innovative approach, namely therapy through sports. 52 children and young people with disabilities from the city of Plovdiv took part in the project. All of them reported improved physical and psycho-emotional state, improved motor capacity and coordination, developed skills for group interaction, following instructions, improved skills of self-service and personal hygiene. For more information about the project, please, visit:
http://vodensviat.paralelensviat.com/
Summary of bilateral results