SHORT INTRODUCTION OF CENTER FOR REHABILITATION DOWN SYNDROME CENTER PULA, CROATIA
Center for rehabilitation Down syndrome center Pula, Croatia, is non-governmental and non-profit family Center founded in year 2005. It is first and only Center of early rehabilitation that kind in Croatia and southeastern Europe. Main goals of the Center are promoting EDSA values and principles in work with DSy persons and protecting their rights and rights of DSy families as well as all kinds of support for DSy persons and their families.
Center is situated in city center of Pula, nearby hospital, main stream school and school for persons with special needs on over 1800 sq meters. Three different departments operate inside it: Daily center, Housing and Department of co-operation and exchange.
In Daily center we take care of kids from city of Pula and Istria County and rest of Croatia in co-operation with city and local authorities. It is opened from 7am till 7 pm, and during that time kids are attending various work shops and inclusion programs. At this moment 30 persons, age from 13 months up to 54 years, are included in this department..
Together with Ministry of health and social welfare in Housing department we are taking care of all persons with DSy from every area in Croatia where don’t exist conditions for their rehabilitation or possibilities to go to schools and also in cases when such persons live in inadequate family or social circumstances.
Third Department is focused on co-operation, education and exchange of opinions and experiences of families who visit our Center to support each other, relax and discuss all our needs and problems.
Also, Center provides program of early medical rehabilitation, early rehabilitation of speech, prevention of obesity, recreational and sport programs, art work shops, hydrotherapy in see during the summer and in pool with warm see water during the winter as well as different inclusion programs with emphasis on sport inclusion programs.
We would like to point out that Center, in partnership with Clinic Children Hospital Kantrida-Rijeka, Medical faculty of University of Rijeka and Teachers college Pula, is educating new generation of medical and teaching staff . In future this work should improve public awareness and it will lead to better integration of persons with DSy in every day life and develop higher lever of quality in their life. Also, with support of Government of Republic of Croatia, Center is preparing first Register of persons with DSy and medical guide lines for children and adolescents with DSy. Implementation of these projects in national legislation will increase level of medical and social rights of persons with DSy and their families.
Center is member of EDSA and in our work we fully apply principles, values and mission of EDSA. EDSA office Croatia is working on education all kinds of professionals and volunteers who works with Down syndrome persons. In next step these professionals, with support of Center, are supposed to help any family in Croatia, regardless where they are situated. Finally, EDSA office Croatia is promoting EDSA values in all other countries of region, giving all interested subjects information, support and all other help they need.
Although, all this activities sometimes require lot of work and scarifying we are satisfied and happy to se smiles our kids faces and we will continue to work hard to secure our kids better future.
Sincerely Yours
Branka Butorac, MD
Headmaster of Down syndrome Center Pula
No comments:
Post a Comment