Training Medical Staff and Volunteers on the Social Model of Disability in Albania

Grantee: Defense Of Rights Of People With Disabilities (MEDPAK)
Location: Albania
Grant Amount: $3,680
Project Dates: November 2007 - April 2008
Project Title: “Change Means Improvement: Improving Together, Living Together”
Project Details: MEDPAK is a parent advocacy group that works for the protection and rights for people with disabilities. MEDPAK worked in collaboration with Red Cross on their USAID-funded project “Child Survival” which focuses on improving healthcare for women and children. The project emphasizes that disability should be viewed from the social model of disability and not from the medical model. The project aimed to increase awareness on inclusion of people with disabilities by medical staff and volunteer networks from a human rights perspective. MEDPAK organized an awareness campaign in partnership with Red Cross.  Three meetings were held, which included the Public health directorate, staff from government social and civil service departments, Red cross staff and volunteers, the student senates of the high school and elementary schools, parents of the children with disabilities, and other specialists that work with children. The themes of these meetings were “The rights of people with disabilities and Albanian legislation” and “Disability and Development as a Civil Society Issue”. MEDPAK also published and distributed leaflets and posters as part of the awareness campaign.

Results:

• 9 Red Cross staff and 22 volunteers were trained in meetings on “The Rights of People with Disabilities and Albanian legislation”.
• 6 official heads of the municipality, Regional Education Directorate and the Public Health Directorate participated meetings on “The Rights of People with Disabilities and Albanian legislation”
• 105 students, teachers, parents and specialists participated in meetings on "Disability and Development as a Civil Society Issue".
• 23 parents participated in the meeting arranged in Peshkopia and the local branch of MEDPAK in Peshkopia to improve lobbying and advocy skills of parents with children with disabilities.
• The Municipality of Peshkopia, the office of the social civil services, the staff of the Public Health directorate, the staff of the American Red Cross, the staff of the Albanian Red Cross and the volunteers became aware that addressing disability issues is necessary for all community development.
• The staff of the municipality (social civil services in the municipality) recognized the need to make an assessment of the needs of people with disability a priority issue.
• Participants in the meetings became aware of the rights of people with disabilities. They asked many questions and took part in discussions about the lives and the rights of the people with disabilities.
• After becoming aware of the status and successful strategies for advocacy, the parents’ associations collaborated in groups to advocate for the rights of the persons with disabilities.
• The relationship between MEDPAK and Albanian Red Cross Staff was strengthened.