TRAININIGS - DIALOGUES
- Training - role playing, video recording
- Discussions - in groups
- Individual tasks created for each person
- Following examples - performing model situations. Lectors, assistants and others play role-model characters, showing how a person can behave and communicate in certain situations. They express different opinions and provide more possibilities of solving the problem for participating people to choose from.
Another positive factor is the presence of volunteers, university and high school students in the role of assistants, whose opinions on life, future etc. help young people with learning disabilities to learn more about the common way of life of their peers.
There are two guiding lectors who lead the training course, give out the tasks and then ensure that all participants have understood. They coordinate the activities during the whole weekend and preside over the group meetings. Other two lectors guide and supervise assistants, since these are not always professional or previously trained. The guidance is carried out upon individual requests at any time during the course, however, there is specially set time for this on the regular meetings of assistants. There, difficult situations are analyzed and assistants, under the lector's supervision, attempt to find solutions. The assistant's role is to support the participant in filling his/her tasks during the whole weekend. The tasks are created to enable people to learn something new or even gain new skills. The support is tailored to fit individual needs and leaves out a space for person's own initiative, but does not let them to get overwhelmed by difficulties.
For a second year we run "The Week of Independent Living". It is similar to "Dialogues", but adds some more on top. Like The "Dialogues", the "Week" takes place in cottages in the middle of the woods, on properties of SDM Hvozdy (another organization providing weekly educational and living programs for people with mental retardation). Participants learn how to arrange all they need to live, as independently as possible, during the whole week. Part of each day is dedicated to The Dialogue-like tasks, targeted at certain skills and parts of life.
The goals of trainings are to:
- improve adaptation abilities, handle everyday situations by themselves
- gain new information
- compare one's knowledge and experience with that of others
- experience certain aspects of independent living (traveling, dressing, personal hygiene, leisure planning)
- meet people, both known and new
- assistants have a chance to experience living with a handicapped people and the way of supporting them
Dialogues - how look it? | ||||
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- Here we live we go by bus in Hvozdnice and then we go 2 km |
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Client's opinion:
"On these "Dialogues" I have learnt to think about every sentence and every answer, not to let myself be led astray. To answer reasonably to what people say. Now I know I won't shout on anybody, but I will make a reasonable agreement. The main thing is not to lose your temper and answer with clear mind." (Petr)
Assistant's opinion:
"Undoubtedly the most important thing I have learnt here is the "real" quality of it all. It is demanding but very powerful. And the amount of self restraint you need here! It would be hard not to use it elsewhere in life. Also the topic is quite important even for "non-clients." One can slow down a little bit here and put things in order. You seldom manage that in everyday life." (Markéta)
The themes of The Dialogues in 2004:
- January - What will happen when…?
- April - People around me
- June - What can I do safely?
- October - All about work
The Dialogues' pictures can be found in our photo gallery
Actualy poster click to download, read or post :)