Based on our previous experience, gained through DINA and DINU we wanted to make a step forward and to develop two new kind of inclusive services for our service users: independent living and inclusive employment. These services didn't exist in Romania and we strongly believe we possess the experience and knowledge required to start this type of services.
"Pentru Voi" Foundation started on 1st of January 20003 a new project - "On your own feet". Its aim is to develop inclusive services and self-advocacy for persons with intellectual disabilities. Open Society Institute, National Authority for Persons with Handicap and "Friends of Speranta" Foundation, the Netherlands, finance the project and the timeframe is one year.
Aim
1. To promote inclusion of people with intellectual disability in the Romanian community
2. To develop and promote 2 new types of inclusive services: independent living and inclusive employment
3. To promote self-advocacy in Romania
LAURA
We bought and fitted a three rooms apartment where three young women with intellectual disabilities live.
The girls living there come from institutions and they have passed through the intermediary phase – group home – where they have been trained for the next step – living independently. They still receive support and a pedagogue is still available to counsel them in crisis situations.
We have organized a festive opening of this apartment, in April, in order to promote this new kind of service.
Employment
The job seeker assessed for employment 30 service users and made 30 vocational profiles.
The service users attended training courses, according to their preferences and abilities, for jobs like baker, cook, computer operator, hair dresser.
We faced problems related to the service users themselves (they are not all the time very happy with the idea of having a job, but they understand finally that living independently implies rights, but obligations as well), to their families (they are afraid that they might lose the state allowance they receive for having a disabled person in the family, which represents for most of them an important part of the family revenue) and to the employers, which are not well informed on what employing a persons with disabilities means (this is the point where the job seeker has an important role to play).
Self-advocacy
* Pentru Voi magazine – four issues, 500 copies each
* Summer school – 30.06 – 06.07.20003 - 80 service users attended the summer school in Raul Alb
* Self-advocacy trainings – each person, attended, during the year, four training sessions, in groups of 20, according to the type of the disability, needs and preferences.
* Personal testimonies
Financed by
· - Open Society Institute, Budapest, Mental Disability Advocacy Program
· - National Authority for Persons with Handicap
· - "Friends of Speranta" Foundation, the Netherlands