Improving the reduced access of children with disabilities to integration services in the community was the motivation behind the project "Informed we are more powerful for our children", implemented by the Autism Voice Association between January and September 2021 in five rural communities located in Prahova County, communities with a large number of children with disabilities and low access to social services.
The project was addressed to parents of children with disabilities, especially children with autism spectrum disorders, with limited access to information, coming from socially marginalized families. The activities also aimed at increasing the capacity to respond to the needs of the community, the visibility and sustainability of small organizations from Prahova County, so that civil society organizations can develop support services for vulnerable groups.
By participating in information workshops on access to services in the community, approximately 60 parents of children with disabilities learned how to advocate for access to social and educational services.
Support groups are a necessary support for parents of children with disabilities because having a child with special needs is certainly a challenge. They are a way to help them cope with the stress they feel, meet other parents and develop a sense of belonging.
Two support groups were organized throughout the project for 15 parents who found within them the support they needed.
"Support, confidence that I can move forward", „Liberation and reconciliation with the realities of personal life", "There are things that cannot be said in everyday life but that must come out and be said. Here I had the opportunity", "Balance, strength, relaxation", "More self-confidence", "Peace of mind", "The support group is like a balm for the soul",
"Support groups are those programs designed with the purpose of providing emotional and informational support for caregivers in order to cope with the problematic situations they face, but also from the desire to create a unique interrelationship space in which parents can share their experiences with each other, become a source of inspiration and fortification and become guides for their children themselves on the special path they have to go through together",
Within the project, an analysis of the current situation was also carried out by the project beneficiaries, who were also involved in formulating and supporting a public policy regarding the integration of persons with disabilities and access to support services addressed to local authorities.
On the Occasion of the World Autism Awareness Day, marked on April 2nd, parents of children with disabilities organized with the help of volunteers two socialization and play events for children and conducted an awareness raising campaign addressed to the general public, with the aim of raising the awareness on the need to integrate and respect the rights of persons with disabilities.
"The involvement of civil society in the planning of an awareness campaign on the rights of vulnerable persons is a step in creating a support network at local level. The participation of the representative of the Autism Voice Association in actions organized at national level (training, conferences and networks) brought a plus of know-how (specific knowledge) in the community. It was a wonderful project and we would like to thank both our beneficiaries for being eager to participate in our activities and for the beautiful feedbacks we received, as well as our collaborators",
