We are parents too!

Usługa

People with intellectual disabilities who have their own children often encounter parenting issues. Sometimes, if they come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, they lack positive role models for building healthy relationships in their families. In many other cases, someone takes over the parenting duties from them, temporarily or permanently. They often have low self-esteem as they do not see themselves as good parents. Due to reduced cognitive abilities, they also have difficulty understanding information in non-simplified form. As a result, they do not participate in classes, trainings or workshops to develop their parenting skills, nor do they make use of the available literature on the subject.

‘We are parents too!’ is a support programme for families where people with intellectual disabilities are parents. The innovation aims to increase the parenting skills of people with intellectual disabilities through individual meetings and supporting workshops. The meetings are intended for two types of recipients, one being people with intellectual disabilities and the other – people providing support. The programme includes separate workshop plans for each group. These activities are conducted independently by specialists. The support groups, formed as part of the programme, make it possible to share views on different problems, listen to and accept the experiences of others, show empathy and connect with people who struggle with similar issues. The programme utilises the ideas of attachment parenting, non-violent communication and self-regulation. The innovation aims to increase parents' attentiveness to their children. It imparts the importance of watching closely and supporting children in difficult situations. The element of self-regulation is crucial and if this skill is acquired by the parents it can be passed on to their children as well. Children learn mainly through imitation, so the better an adult handles their emotions, the easier it will be for children to master this skill.

People with intellectual disabilities who are parents of children aged 9 or younger People supporting parents with intellectual disabilities

Institutions with experience in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities

A handbook ‘The support programme for parents with intellectual disabilities’ which includes: handouts recruitment forms

Participants were able to meet other people with intellectual disabilities who, just like them, are parents too. They saw that others deal with similar issues and had the chance to share their experiences and advice. They also started to notice their own and their children's emotions and tried to identify them. They saw the need to increase their children's independence (i.a. going to sleep on their own, dressing themselves, washing themselves, cleaning up by themselves more often). They increased their attentiveness and became more understanding.

Tak

Competent workshop facilitators: Trainers to conduct workshops for parents with intellectual disabilities: have completed the "School for Parents" course and the "School for Parents and Educators" course for educators or have many years of experience in running a different programme entirely dedicated to attachment parenting are certified therapists/educators/special educators/psychologists have at least 5 years of experience in working with adults with intellectual disabilities. Trainers to conduct workshops for people supporting parents with intellectual disabilities: are qualified educators/therapists/psychologists have at least 5 years of experience in working with people with intellectual disabilities have completed the 'Schools for Parents' course or a different course dedicated entirely to attachment parenting. A participants recruiter A sitter who: is familiar with the topic of attachment parenting has at least 3 years of experience in babysitting

Space for holding workshops A playroom for children

Podmiot prawny

Dorota Kaczorowska, Kinga Lipka, Katarzyna Młynarczyk, Marta Młynarczyk, Danuta Piątkowska, Joanna Ponicka – Fundacja na Rzecz Osób Niepełnosprawnych "Arkadia"

Toruń

Inkubator pomysłów [2020-23]