Family Planning and Sexual Education for People with Disabilities in Albania
Grantee: Help the Life Association/ Muscular Dystrophy Association
Location: Albania
Grant Amount: $5,440
Project Dates: November 2007 - April 2008
Project Title: Family planning and sexual education for people with mental and physical disabilities
Project Details: Help the Life partnered with Environment and Social Welfare (AAESW) and the Albanian Association of Family Planning (a development organization) to provide trainings for all staff members. Participants of the workshops included people with disabilities, their families, and volunteers. The workshops topics included: Introducing family planning, counseling, and modern methods of contraceptives. Meetings and workshops had two purposes - to build the capacity of medical staff and members of the implementing organizations, and to educate adults and young people with disabilities and their families on addressing issues of sexuality and family planning.
Results:
- 40 disabled people and parents of disabled people are more informed about what family planning is and its importance in their lives.
- 10 members of the medical staff of the Health Unit No. 3 participated in three informative meetings on including people with mental and physical disabilities in their family planning services
- Specialists and representatives from AAESW, Help the Life Association, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association participated in a workshop entitled “Basic Knowledge about Mental and Physical Disability: Characteristics, Specifics and Types of Disability”
- The training developed a collaborative relationship between AAESW, Help the Life Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the members of the medical staff of the Health Unit no. 3
