Fundatia de Abilitare Speranta (Romania)
The foundation has a 32 years experience in support, recovery and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities and special needs, information, counselling and support for their parents, as well as involvement in inclusive education in Romanian schools. It has also developed and runs training programs, accredited by the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research, for teachers from mainstream and special education, to promote the right to education and teaching strategies to support the disabled children inclusion in the educational system (Inclusive education, Diversity management in schools, learn to understand children with ADHD). It also had accreditation for a training program for teachers and school staff - Management of undesirable behaviours in school – which includes effective ways of understanding and managing children with ADHD and also to manage pupils’ behaviours of concern according to a lifelong learning perspective. It is involved in national policy making efforts in the area of deinstitutionalisation and community living as a human right, for all persons with disabilities.
FAS’s vision is a world where all children and adults with disabilities are included and participate in the community. We are working towards changing the mentality of our society by showing that these people have abilities and deserve equal opportunities and to be treated with patience, support, kindness. Key milestones for achieving this vision are: being a Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs accredited social services provider, with six licensed social services (residential and non residential) provided specialized services for over 4,000 children and their parents; developed several guidelines for parents and professionals involved in educational and rehabilitation activities for children with disabilities that are used by teachers in the country: "The Autistic Child," "Practical Guide for Educators and Parents of Children with Disabilities attention and hyperactivity (ADHD syndrome), " "Childhood and Adolescent Disorders," " Practical Guide for Educators Working with Multiple Disabilities Children" "Practical Guide for Parents on Early Intervention"; implemented over 50 projects European and international projects; supported 8 adults with disabilities to move out of institutions and live in community and 13 other with institutionalization prevention services; secured three public-private partnerships for deinstitutionalization and licensed, from the National Authority for Persons with Disabilities, five social services (shelter housing, independent living preparation, home and community based mobile team). It has a team of almost 25 paid staff members (psychologists, social workers, physio and speech therapists, support persons for independent living skills, also) and 10+ constant volunteers, plus a partnership with the local university to provide internship opportunities to future professional.