Self-advocacy
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- Category: Self Advocacy of Persons with SD
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On August, 2014 was held the Down Syndrome World Congress in Chennai, India. In this congress, organizations and professionals from different fields (like medicine, psychology, pedagogy etc) were united to discuss and to share their experiences concerning the increment of awareness, self-advocacy, health, education, employment and the rights. One of the strengths of this meeting was the discussion about self-advocacy of the individuals with Down Syndrome.
What is self-advocacy?
Self-advocacy is the right of the person with intellectual disability to express by himself his will and to make decision by himself without the need of custody. This means that the person has the right to choose and to express his will, starting from the small decisions to the biggest one like the right for employment, education, health care etc. This can be achieved also through the support and the help of someone, but it is important to be expressed the feelings and wishes of the person with Down Syndrome.
During this congress were presented and talked some of well-known self-advocates in the world, like:
Emmanuel Bishop- a violinist with Down Syndrome from United States of America.
Down Syndrome Albania Foundation was presented in this congress by Irma Nika, 18 years old girl, which was accompanied by a member of our staff.
Irma followed the program for individuals with Down Syndrome from 18 to 21 August. Even though Irma had difficulties with the language, with the help of the companion, she followed and was active in all the activities and she managed to express her potential in many different fields, like painting, music, dancing.
At the end of this congress, were presented these conclusions about the development of self-advocacy:
• Respect and acceptance from the society, treating them equally.
• The right for marriage and relationship without the intervention of the parents.
• The possibility to take care about him/herself and to have a healthy and independent life.
• The possibility for free education.
• Schools must have as a part of their staff a consultant trained about the inclusiveness.
• Social insurance covering, starting from the birth day.
• The right for voting.
•The right for free transport.
• The establishment and the development of an appropriate social model, to offer services in education, health, trainings, employment and career development for the individuals with Down Syndrome.
• Establishing the resources for the development of the programs for employment and trainings of the individuals with Down Syndrome.
• Reaction to prevent the sexual abuse and to ask.
• Access in health system, respecting in this way the dignity and the privacy of the people with Down Syndrome.
• Entertainment policy in sports, facilitating in this way the sponsorships and the trainings in every level of participation.
