The main purpose of Rural Independent Life project was to create an innovative training program for professionals (social workers, adult educators, and municipal service staff) to promote social inclusion and independent living for people with disabilities (PWD) in rural areas. The project established the role of personal assistants for independent living and introduced innovative mentoring methods and tools for professionals supporting PWD in this process. Specific objectives included: • Contributing to the social inclusion of PWD in rural areas. • Identifying the informational and methodological needs of rural professionals assisting PWD in their journey toward independent living. • Developing a transnational workshop for adult education staff to design innovative training for rural professionals, social workers, NGO staff, and educators on deinstitutionalization and independent living. • Implementing training courses to mentor and plan PWD’s independent living process, defining the role and competencies of personal assistants. • Mentoring PWD in their independent living process through trained professionals. This collaborative effort addressed key challenges and promoted inclusion, autonomy, and comprehensive support for PWD.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals highlighted the need for the inclusion of people with disabilities (PWD), particularly during and after the COVID-19 crisis. Addressing this was crucial to building inclusive and sustainable societies resilient to pandemics and global challenges. In rural areas, PWD faced greater challenges than their urban counterparts, including lower school attendance, limited employment opportunities, restricted healthcare access, and reduced internet availability. They were often excluded from rural development efforts and perceived as recipients of charity or social protection, rather than active contributors to society and the economy. The Rural Independent Life project effectively tackled these issues. It fostered collaboration among rural development stakeholders, created new employment opportunities such as personal assistants, provided training for educators to improve the quality of life for PWD, and promoted technology as a tool for information access, empowerment, and autonomy. These actions successfully addressed the identified needs, enhancing the inclusion and indepent life of PWD in rural areas.