Day Centres without walls is the initiative of 6 organisations from 5 different countries to join forces, for one main objective of exchanging good practices and build capacities. The project aims in improving and innovating inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities through fostering specific actions within the frame work of a Day Center operation in order to foster active participation in volunteer organisations, employment and the active society of citizens. The state of affairs for people with disabilities is that their full social inclusion and active citizenship are not yet a reality, but future challenges. The policies to remove physical barriers have not been extended to the overcoming of mental barriers. Day centres are the main service providers for People with disabilities and as such, they are at the forefront of providing empowerment, social inclusion and access to the rest of society. Nevertheless, in spite of numerous initiatives against institutionalisation, it is a shared experience of many professionals, that day centres, as any organisation, tends to get institutionalised, they do not reach enough out to the community and the clients are not given space to expand their abilities and reach their potential. It is a core element of any society that citizens have both right and obligations, but People with intellectual disability are in the unique position of being considered “exempt” from the social obligations that are the norm of our societies, such as providing volunteer services. This special status even though it’s been set in place in order to protect PIDs, in effect, forces them in second tier citizenship and furthermore maintain the problem of segregation and institutionalisation. It is our belief that people with intellectual disabilities are citizens capable of fluffing their “social duty” and as such their inclusion as both receivers and providers of voluntarily services is both possible and beneficial All models of care suggest that ID persons, currently mere recipients of support, have to become contributors for the common good. They are not only recipients but also contributors, offering their experiences, reflections, creations… their voices. The implementing partners have asserted that in their own operations full social inclusion and active citizenship are not yet a reality, but still a challenges and only synergies and a review of existing policies and practices could overcome this gap. The project creates a framework to support and push exchange of best practices focus on enhancing inclusion and participation in the active life of the community for the recipients of Day Centers services, knowledge sharing in matters of curriculum, standards and tools for an “Open Doors” policy (include staff training). Besides this overall goal, the project specific objectives are to: 1. “browse” national and European best practices and related experiences, products (curriculums, tool boxes, learning materials, etc.); 2. collect methodological information on how to develop initiatives to reach stakeholders, volunteer organisations, future employees taking in special account: a. the particular resources that the participating organisations have available; b. the democratic imperative to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities; c. the innovative use of digital media in the process; 3. identify essential elements for the development an efficient open training program tailored to the specific needs of two target groups: a. the board members and managing staff in Day Centers organisations which provide services to people with disabilities, to strengthen organisational readiness and overcame the inherent organisational inertia; b. the society of citizens, volunteer organisations themselves providing with the resources and information they need to overcame stereotypes regarding people with disabilities and facilitate their inclusion in the society of adult citizens; 4. increase the capacities of the participant organisations and their staff members regarding language skills, intercultural competences and networking on international level. 5. An increase in practices that are based on the participation of ID people. 6. Find good practices for job placement Considering the different institutional, academic and even cultural backgrounds, the partner organisations are aware of avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach and based on that conviction, they stress on the need to develop a very concise overview of the best practices of learning design. Meeting these differences and dealing with them is not only about demonstrating the competency for transnational cooperation and the organisation's overall capability, but it is also one pathway to achieve the project targets and a solid resource to improve existing efforts.
The project aimed to create a framework to support and push exchange of best practices focus on enhancing inclusion and participation in the active life of the community for the recipients of Day Centers services, knowledge sharing in matters of curriculum, standards, and tools for an “Open Doors” policy. Besides this overall goal, the project specific objectives were to “browse” national and European best practices and related experiences, products (curriculums, tool boxes, learning materials, etc.); collect methodological information on how to develop initiatives to reach stakeholders; identify essential elements and criteria for the development an efficient open training program tailored to the specific needs of two target groups; a. The decision makers within the Care Centres (parents, professionals etc) b. the general public increase the capacities of the participant organisations regarding language skills, intercultural competences, and networking on international level. An increase in practices that are based on the participation of ID people. Find good practices for job placement Considering the different institutional, academic and even cultural backgrounds,
Day Centres without walls was conceived as an initiative, for one main objective of exchanging good practices and build capacities through specific actions and practices within the framework of a Day Center operation to foster active participation in volunteer organisations, employment, and the active society of citizens. It is a core element of any society that citizens have both right and obligations, but People with intellectual disability are in the unique position of being considered “exempt” from the social obligations that are the norm of our societies. This special status in effect, forces PIDs in second tier citizenship and furthermore maintain the problem of segregation and institutionalisation. It is the belief of the partnership that people with intellectual disabilities are citizens capable of fluffing their “social duty” and as such their inclusion as both receivers and providers of voluntarily services is both possible and beneficial