- «This is a historic day, because, for the first time in Extramadura, a municipal council will launch a pilot project for adults with intellectual disabilities, so that they can carry out leisure activities,» said Fajardo.
- «The goal of Mérida is to ensure equal opportunities for people who are outside of major programs because they have significant support needs,» said the delegate.
- The registration period will open between July 17th and 23rd, and the activities will take place in August.
The Delegate of Accessibility and Universal Inclusion, Susana Fajardo, presented the recreational pilot program on Thursday, which will be launched by the Mérida Municipal Council in August and is aimed at adults with high support needs difficulties, «prioritizing people with intellectual impairment.»
All this, she said, with the goal of «providing leisure activities to individuals who, due to their extensive support needs, require constant care, cannot access leisure activities, or have significant challenges in doing so.»
Furthermore, this program provides the «necessary resources» so that «adults with high support needs can lead as independent a life as possible, engaging in leisure and cultural spaces that Mérida offers and guaranteeing equal opportunities,» she said.
The Delegate of Accessibility and Universal Inclusion clarified that this is «not a respite program,» although through this pilot project, «families will find respite» during the activities.
«It’s about valuing the free time of people with disabilities, in the activities they want to participate in, and, especially, Mérida’s aim is to ‘ensure equal opportunities for those individuals who are outside major programs because they have significant needs,'» stated the delegate.
In this regard, she recalled that «this is the work approach of the local council,» which involves «promoting independent living programs and supporting such projects to assist individuals with these needs in continuing to develop their life projects.»
Additionally, Susana Fajardo emphasized that these programs contribute to «furthering the transformation of the city,» so that «people with disabilities can finally occupy public leisure spaces, which, through the right to full citizenship, belong to them and allow them to develop their life projects independently.»
Furthermore, the delegate highlighted that «once again, the Mérida Local Council is a pioneer in inclusion policies and contributes to further transforming Mérida to be for all people, without exception.»
Pilot Program
Registration for this pilot program can be done between July 17th and 23rd, through the following link:
After the registration period ends, the coordination team will reach out to families and conduct personal interviews with individuals with disabilities or, if necessary, with family members and/or life interpreters, to understand the needs and preferences of the individuals in order to design the support and activity schedule, which will begin on August 1st.
The activities offered will include, among other things, swimming pool visits, summer cinema, or adapted sports practices, with a suitable program and duration for different needs.
It should be noted that the program will have five support professionals who will provide direct care to registered individuals, and it will be ensured, whenever necessary, that the person accessing the activity has an exclusive monitor,» said the Delegate of Accessibility and Universal Inclusion.
Susana Fajardo:
