Equality-based Community Support And Training

The training provided a mixture of presentations with some sessions for parents and children together where children could show parents how they can carry out daily living skills by themselves or by helping each other, such getting dressed and ironing and folding clothes.  Role play activities such as a shopping game encouraged them to make choices and handle money.  For other sessions the children worked together on activities designed to encourage participation, promote confidence, develop self-esteem and extend their skills.  Parents had presentations on models of disability, ways of supporting each other to overcome barriers to disability such as forming parent support groups, disability rights and the right to education.  During these sessions parents were invited to express and discuss their problems and experiences.

The last session was for parents, children and trainers to enjoy dancing and singing together and comment on their three days.  Trainers were impressed how quickly the children got to know each other and how readily they focused on their activities while parents were having a presentation in a separate room.  Parents said they had learnt a great deal and there were some things they had not thought about or did not know before, especially disability rights and how they can help their children to be more independent.  They valued the chance to share their worries and for other people to listen to them.  Children had made new friends and said they did not want the training to end.  Everyone agreed the three days were an enjoyable learning curve.  People said goodbyes hoping to have the opportunity to meet again.