The initiative “I say: Stop Violence” is aimed at 50 users of the units in Arganil, Coimbra, Montemor-o-Velho, and Tocha (in the municipality of Cantanhede) and has the support of the Portuguese Victim Support Association (APAV) and funding from the National Institute of Rehabilitation.
The project’s objective is to raise awareness among people with intellectual disabilities about forms of violence and mistreatment, increase awareness in identifying and preventing these phenomena, and encourage the participation of these individuals in reporting and preventing such cases, as well as in producing a practical guide, APPACDM Coimbra revealed today in a press release sent to Lusa news agency.
During September, there will be five training sessions in each of APPACDM Coimbra’s functional units, where various types of violence – physical, psychological, sexual, and financial – will be explained, and advice will be provided, such as not sending intimate photos or, in case of violence inside a home, seeking refuge in a room with a low door or window.
At the end of this training phase, the ability of the 50 clients of the institution participating in the project will be evaluated, not only to identify situations of violence, abuse, and mistreatment but also their capacity to act in these situations.
“There will also be in-depth sessions, conducted in each unit by the project’s technical team, to support people with disabilities in cementing the knowledge acquired in the training sessions, adapting them to their specific reality,” the Association adds.
The project culminates with the collection of contributions and the development of a practical guide in accessible language for identifying and acting on situations of violence.
The president of APPACDM Coimbra, Helena Albuquerque, quoted in the note, states that this guide can help not only the Association’s clients but also those of other similar institutions.
