PARTNERS
The Maria Grzegorzewska University
The Maria Grzegorzewska University (APS) established in 1922 is a university of almost 100-year-old teaching tradition. Among its biggest assets are highly qualified staff (approximately 500), diverse programs of study and improved conditions of studying (new premises as well as well good quality IT equipment). We provide a range of varied study opportunities including acquisition of respectful jobs which are highly demanded in the job market. Nowadays, we have approximately 5,000 students enrolled in both full-time and part-time study programmes. In addition, the University offers various postgraduate programmes which provide complementary qualifications in general and special education, as well as in other fields of social life. The University offers six fields of study in Polish: Psychology, Sociology, Pedagogy, Special Education, Social Work and Artistic Education. The APS‘s academics represent the University in many international organizations such as: the International Association for Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability, European Society of Alcohol Addiction Treatment (the European Society on Treatment of Alcohol Dependence and Related Disorders), Health Behavior in School Aged Children, the International Association of Special Education, the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment, and the International Society for Research on Aggression. The Mission of APS in according with the idea of the University’s patron that there is no disabled person– there is a person, is to prepare special educators and teachers working for the welfare of people with various disabilities. Moreover, help them to support disabled people in terms of respect for their human and civil rights, including an understanding and acceptance for otherness. The University also teaches graduates to perceive disability as an indispensable element of the human condition, thus guiding them to bringing people with disabilities into society as legitimate citizens.
CEIPES – International Centre for the Promotion of Education and Development
CEIPES – International Centre for the Promotion of Education and Development is a non-profit organisation founded in 2007 and based in Palermo, Italy. It leads a Network of more than 8 European and extra European associations focused on Education, Training and Social Development. CEIPES has expertise on Education, Transfer of innovation and Project management in different European programmes tackling the Education and the capacity building of different target groups, from young people to adults, from women to unemployed, migrants and disadvantaged groups. It also promotes lifelong learning, vocational training and entrepreneurship with the aim of enhancing opportunities for youth and adults to improve and acquire competences and therefore boost their employability and inclusion. CEIPES has several links with public and private local and international stakeholders that can contribute to the achievement of project results in terms of dissemination, exploitation and sustainability of them. CEIPES can count on experienced staff composed of professionals with different competences and fields such as psychology, communication, training, international cooperation, social and cultural mediation, social assistance, ICT, digital manufacturing and law.
AIS – Austrian Association of Inclusive Society
Austrian Association of Inclusive Society (AIS) is a non-governmental research organization established at Vienna, Austria. AIS aims to improve the situation of people who have social, economic, educational disadvantages (such as people in poverty, refugees, immigrants) and disabilities (physical, sensory, intellectual) in all areas of social, cultural, and educational life. AIS works on adaptation and inclusion of people to social, educational, technological, and physical environment through improvement of their communication and social skills, and exchange of experience. Besides improvement at personal and interpersonal levels, advocating for the change in government policies, culture and social norms is also imperative for an inclusive society of the future. Hence, AIS members and volunteers fight for equal rights and full inclusion of people of the society in all aspects of life. Main departments of AIS are – Management – Advisory Board – Charity and community development – Research and training – Field and social work – Personal development (under training) – Professional development (under training) – Integration and social inclusion (under community development) – National and international cooperation (under management)
ESTIA – Support & Social Care Centre for People with Intellectual Disability
ESTIA is a recognised Charity Association, overseen by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. It was founded in 1982 by parents of children with intellectual disability. ESTIA is specialized in providing support and care to people with intellectual disabilities (PWIDs) from 15 years of age, in aim to improve quality of life and support inclusion into the community. In 1998 it was certified as a special vocational training centre for implementation of ESF projects. Since 2009 ESTIA is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015. ESTIA key activities are: vocational training, support services for the disabled and their families, supported employment service, social skills training, creative learning and leisure time activities, sports programmes, creation and implementation of supported living units, train the trainers, seminars and conferences. About 80 service users with medium or light intellectual disability are attending the services on an everyday basis. The staff working at ESTIA are 50 and they consist of: specially certified disability educators, occupational therapists, special teachers, physical teachers, drama teacher, speech therapist, psychologists, social workers, and administrative staff. Many of the staff members have more than 20 years of work experience in the disability sector. Today, ESTIA, under the ROP ATTICA 2014-2020, “PROMOTION OF SOCIAL INCLUSION AND COMBATING POVERTY AND DISCRIMINATION – ENSURING SOCIAL COHESION” implements a project entitled “ESTIA-SERVICE CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY” (code OPS 5001568). The purpose of the program is to provide social care services to adults with intellectual disability for 3 years (from 01-10-2017 to 30-09-2020), extended for 3 more years (till 30-6-2023). The services are provided by ESTIA at its certified facilities, with the aim of serving the beneficiaries in the best possible way, improving their quality of life, creative employment and enhancing their socialization and social inclusion.
UNIVERZITETNI REHABILITACIJSKI INSTITUT REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE SOCA
University Rehabilitation Institute, Republic of Slovenia – Soča (hereafter referred to as URI-Soča) was established in 1954. In 1993 it was transformed into the Institute for Public Health, established by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. It is the central National Health Institute for comprehensive and interdisciplinary rehabilitation of patients with functional and workplace impairments. URI-Soča treats over 15,000 out-patients and 1,800 in-patients yearly. Within the Institute several specialized and subspecialized departments are operating (for screening, rehabilitation diagnostics, and therapy of patients and service users with severe impairments): department for vocational rehabilitation, rehabilitation of children, patients after traumatic brain injury, with multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders, patients after injuries, with a peripheral nerve disorder and rheumatoid disease, patients with spinal cord lesions, patients with muscular and neuromuscular diseases, and rehabilitation of patients after amputation. The expert staff of the Institute has had excellent teachers in medical, technical and social throughout the 60 years of the Institute’s development. URI-Soča has a special department for children, where we provide the highest levels of comprehensive rehabilitation, research, and professional education. Congenital and acquired diseases and injuries lead to consequences that require professionally planned and performed rehabilitation programs. Since 1986, the Children’s Department at the URI – Soča has offered rehabilitation to children with such conditions. The team of experts at the department is qualified for the comprehensive rehabilitation of children aged from a few months to 15 years, who due to disease or injury face consequences in the field of mobility, sensation and perception, speech and communication and cognitive functions.
Croatian Association of Societies of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (Savez OSIT)
Croatian Association of Societies of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities is an non-governmental, non-profit network of associations founded in Zagreb in 1957, and includes 32 basic member associations that cover the entire territory of the Republic of Croatia. The Association is providing various activities: representation of parents/guardians, adults and children with intellectual disabilities, program/project activities, education, coordination, international cooperation and counseling. Association is a central place of professional support to members, cooperate and make partnerships in all structures involved in working with persons with disabilities in Croatia and abroad, influences changes and the adoption of legal acts and monitors their implementation. Member associations carry out activities such as: early intervention, day and half-day program in association, independent living with support, psychosocial support, personal assistant, teaching assistant, employment support in the open labor market and in protection workshops. Croatian Association as an umbrella organization, through various programs and projects, works on development of network of member societies, enhances the accessibility of social services to persons with intellectual disabilities and their parents, connects and educates member associations and changing public perception about persons with intellectual disabilities. Croatian Association is influencing on public policies through cooperation with other organisations for persons with disabilities, provides comments about the laws and regulations that are in process of developing. It works to raise public awareness, for the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities, to prevent institutionalization and increase social inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities through gatherings, educations, workshops, sports meetings etc.