IASSID Academy Workshop: Persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: The forgotten citizens of the world

Pre-conference of the 13th IASSID World Congress

Aims & content of the workshop:
In the support of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD), practitioners generally lack crucial knowledge and skills. These limitations are felt even stronger in developing and under-served countries. This may be due to the extent and complexity of the disabilities of those with PIMD. In addition to their profound intellectual disability, individuals with PIMD also have severe or profound motor disabilities and often sensory disabilities. Furthermore, individuals with PIMD have an overall risk of developing medical complications, thus forming a physically very vulnerable group with a heavy or total dependence on personal assistance for everyday tasks. This puts a strain on all those who provide support. The extent and the complexity of disabilities will provoke feelings of insecurity relating to the educational and support goals that are operative. In addition to the lack of resources in developing countries, and the apparent fact that a person with PIMD is not able to be economically ‘productive’, persons with PIMD are often left to themselves, receiving only custodial care.

As quality of life and quality of support are, for this category of persons, inextricably linked, the workshop aims to convey knowledge and skills to improve the quality of support.

• The workshop’s first aim is to convey basic knowledge on medical issues with the emphasis on the effect that medical conditions have on everyday life, on support needs and on the effectiveness of support programs within the given infrastructure.
• As staff/clients interactions are considered necessary conditions to achieve valued quality of life outcomes for these individuals, the workshop’s second aim is to convey basic skills related to communication with persons with PIMD. This part of the workshop consists of the presentation of concrete approaches to improve existing communication and interaction patterns for the purpose of meeting critical needs.
• A third aim of the workshop is establishing a network between delegates from developing countries, to exchange ideas and find support
• A fourth and last aim of the workshop is to demonstrate ways that will convince delegates that individuals with PIMD are able to develop, to communicate, to enjoy life, in short: to be a citizen of this world.
  At the end of the workshop certificates the Academy Board of IASSID will award a certificate.

Participants:
Everyone living in a developing or under-served country who is working in the field of PIMD or is a parent of a child with PIMD can attend the workshop. (min. 10 participants)

Date: 24th of August (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) – 25th of August (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

Venue: Alexandra Hospital, Annex Road, Maitland, Cape Town

Costs: Free (registration necessary), refreshments and meals are at the attendant's own expense

Organizing committee:
Prof. Dr. C. Vlaskamp (University of Groningen, the Netherlands), Dr. J. Goldbart (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK), Prof. Dr. B. Maes (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium), Prof. Dr. K. Petry (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium), Ms. M. Arnold (Ark Regional Services, USA), Ms. J. Walker (Ark Regional Services, USA)

For more information and registration, please contact:
Prof. Dr. Carla Vlaskamp
Grote Rozenstraat 38,
9721 TJ, Groningen
The Netherlands
E-mail c.vlaskamp@rug.nl
Telephone ++31503636573
Fax ++31503636564

For information about other activities of the IASSID Academy please contact Roy Brown.
E-mail: roybrown@uvic.ca