Without Borders: How people with intellectual disabilities succeed
For most people, moving to the urban environment is not difficult. They can easily navigate over time and decide when it is best to go to work. However, things are not exactly the case with people with intellectual disabilities. Skills that look easy and quick to absorb can cost them years of effort.
This is also the case of Alexandra Marinova, Bianca Petrova and Gergana Zhivkova, who visit the Day Center of the World of Maria Foundation. Years ago, they began their journey there timidly and uncertainly, but now they are able to cope with their daily lives.
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« Before my mom led me to the day care center, but I go everywhere. If I happen to be lost, I will ask a person or call it. If I do not pick up, I will enter the Internet and write the address. Sometimes it is still difficult for me to handle the time. Then I ask my mom and it helps me. »
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How the Foundation helps people with intellectual disabilities
« The World of Maria » provides social services to people over the age of 18. Currently, the Foundation is working with 63 people, some of which manage to build autonomy faster, while others take longer. However, everyone needs some form of support throughout their lives, explained Maria Alexieva, a social worker at the foundation for 10 years.
| The main activity of « The World of Maria » is related to training in the work skills of young people with a mild to moderate degree of intellectual difficulty. This is happening in two places – in the Day Center « Worlds », where there are various ateliers dedicated to the interests of young people, and the work center « Learning cuisine », which allows you to develop skills in equipped professional cuisine and gardening. |
Gergana Zhivkova begins her journey from the production and household activities, and he already goes practically several times a week to a clothing store where he helps arrange the goods. Bianca Petrova and Alexandra Marinova are actively involved in the catering services of the Foundation. In the beginning, however, not everything works so easy.
When I first tried it was very difficult for me and I gave up
« When I tried it was very difficult for me for the first time and I gave up. Then I started entering the production studio more often, but later I tried to work in the kitchen again. In general, when I came to the center 10-11 years ago I was so disturbing. I didn’t know where the bath was, where to wash my hands at all.
Is the labor market prepared for people with intellectual disabilities
One of the more complex tasks of the « World of Maria » Foundation remains the opening of employers to build long, sustainable connections. In most cases, her team is more active and tries to disseminate information about their activities, said Maria Alexieva.
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Maria Alexieva. A social worker in the « world of Maria »
| The way the foundation is trying to facilitate employers is by preparing the so -called. Labor profile for each of their users. This happens when they themselves feel ready, already have basic work skills and would safely try to work outside the day care center. |
« In these labor profiles, we very clearly describe the strengths of a person-what he is good at, what skills he has and what else he could upgrade. There is also a part where we actually share some more specific things about a person, such as situations where he is easier, » Alexieva added. For some people, however, the idea of leaving the day care center remains quite distant.
According to the director of « The World of Maria, » Miriana Syrian has the potential for the development of the labor market for people with intellectual disabilities. What slows down the process is that the people who enter the foundation service need more time to build the so -called soft work skills.
However, it is more difficult for people with intellectual disabilities to do a few things at once, the so-called. Multitasking, because they often cannot judge which obligation is an advantage over another. That is why the Foundation is trying to clarify with employers what are the right positions and conditions of work for these people.
The downsides in education and financing of long -term care
One of the obstacles to the construction of work skills in people with intellectual difficulties is the lack of special programs at school that are adapted to their needs.
« This is a problem for the education system because we regularly take young people who have graduated from school and who need years to build the skills to work somewhere. And this is a disadvantage, because in reality these years are largely lost, » said Miriana Syrian.
| He has a pointless focus in covering theoretical knowledge and more skills for independence and life must be developed. For a number of young people with intellectual disabilities, the school is also related to isolation because it is difficult for them to deal with at least 24 children in one class, she said. |
The activities of foundations such as the « world of Maria » are defined as the provision of long -term care, and their financing requires no small resource. During the first two years, the Foundation operates with its own funds and projects, and then began to win competitions to the Sofia Municipality and receive funding as a state delegated activity under the Social Services Act.
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« Financing through a competition as a state delegated activity is a good opportunity to support services that have already been created by private suppliers, such as our case, not to rely solely on the municipality or the state to set aside the original resource, which is not small. Maria. «
According to Miryana, Syrian social work is essential as a profession and makes a significant difference in the lives of whole families, families and communities.
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