Summary
People with intellectual disabilities (PwID) should be fully involved in the decision-making processes on events that affect their lives. This applies to decisions on day-to-day matters such as choice of activities, daily routines, where and with whom they live, and operational matters such as staff/service providers selection, times and ways of organising and delivering services.
Effective advocacy and a person-centred planning (PCP) approach can transform the lives of PwID by enabling them to express their wishes, aspirations and make real and informed choices. Advocacy and PCP help people put forward their views and play an active part in planning and designing services that are responsive to their needs. Trainees will learn how to reinforce their contribution to the decision-making process and participative mechanisms in the organisations to which they belong as clients or members.
Target Group
People with intellectual disabilities and supporters, including disability professionals, relatives and/or other stakeholders who can play a role in the exercise of rights of persons with intellectual disabilities. Their involvement in the training activities could be adapted to each scenario.
Aims
- To understand how self-advocacy and person-centred planning impact on decision-making processes.
- To identify areas and opportunities of organisational participation.
- To identify and recognize participative mechanisms in their organisations.
- To promote participation and engagement in decision-making processes at the organisation level.
- To be involved and heard in problem-solving in order to build tailored solutions.
- To reinforce the use of digital tools as a key resource for participation and organisational engagement.
Key Competences
- Self-advocacy (e.g., taking action to represent and advance your own interests; participate in events on civic engagement and political participation; share information; raise awareness on rights; identify barriers and recommend solutions).
- Systemic advocacy (e.g., taking action to influence organisational, social, political, and economic systems to bring about change).
- Organisational engagement (e.g., trust, integrity, commitment to organisation’s goals and values; individual respect and appreciation; person-centred planning; effective communication between organisation/service providers and its clients or members; participation in decision-making processes).
- Decision-making skills (refers to the capacity of choosing between two or more alternatives. A variety of skills should be considered to make the right decisions, like: information analysis; problem-solving; emotional Intelligence; creativity; teamwork; etc.).
Training Contents
- Empowering People with Intellectual Disabilities
- Definitions of self-advocacy, self-determination and systemic advocacy
- Attitudes and main benefits of self-advocacy for participation and engagement of PwID
- Person-centred planning as a promoter of self-advocacy, independence, dignity, and respect
- Knowing myself: rights, abilities, strengths, needed support, and opportunities to become an active person at organisational level
- Participation and Engagement of PwID at the Organisational Level
- Participating in decision-making processes (e.g. membership on Boards, Committees and Advisory groups).
- Promoting advocacy (e.g. speaking engagements, being a media spokesperson, participating in pre-election activities, organising a public awareness event).
- Working in programmes (e.g. peer mentorship, group leadership or facilitation, participating in fundraising activities, developing volunteer training materials).
- Publication and reviewing materials (e.g. articles; newsletters; reviewing drafts of publications; videos, etc.).
- Assisting on organisation management (e.g. participative budget; general assemblies and decision meetings; participating on a staff hiring team, facilitating a component of new staff orientation; delivering ongoing staff training).
- Digital tools as promoters and facilitators of participation and engagement at organisational level.
Session Plan (for trainers)
