To work through art - vocational activation of people with intellectual disabilities

In early September 2010, the project „To Work Through Art – Vocational Activation for People with Intellectual Disabilities” was launched. The project will run until the end of October 2011 and its activities will cover the Silesian Voivodeship. The project is an initiative of three organisations: the MOST Association for the Support of Non-Governmental Organisations, the „Pokochaj mnie” Association for Helping Children, and the „Razem” Association for the Support of People with Disabilities and Their Communities.

The aim of the project is to develop solutions that enable people with intellectual disabilities to be employed in artistic ventures and institutions, and to implement new forms and methods of support for the social and professional integration of people with disabilities (PwD).

As part of the project, 20 people with intellectual disabilities will be trained in basic acting techniques (stage movement, voice projection, puppetry), set design, stage decoration, costume design, exhibition preparation, and photo/video recording. During these workshops, videos will be produced showcasing the skills of people with disabilities, serving as a portfolio of sorts for each project participant. Ultimately, the portfolio will be made available to potential employers, who will be able to assess the skills of a prospective employee on this basis.

As part of the project, support will also be provided to parents and carers of people with disabilities, for whom a comprehensive programme of seminars and workshops has been organised. Parents and carers will be able, amongst other things, to develop their communication skills, learn how to cope in stressful situations and gain an understanding of the basics of employment law in the context of employing people with disabilities. In addition, parents and carers will be able to access general and specialist counselling services to help them cope with the challenges of caring for a person with a disability.

Another key project activity will be to disseminate the results achieved amongst those implementing social and vocational activation programmes, through the organisation of seminars and an away workshop.

We hope that the project will help to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the cultural sectors and to better prepare instructors working with people with disabilities, so that they can successfully prepare people with disabilities for artistic work, and that interest in employment amongst people with disabilities and their families/carers will increase, precisely thanks to the expansion of opportunities in the arts.

This project is made possible thanks to co-financing from the European Union under the Human Capital Operational Programme, Priority VII: Promotion of social integration, Measure 7.2 „Combating exclusion and strengthening the social economy sector”, Sub-measure 7.2.1 „Professional and social activation of people at risk of social exclusion”.