FEAPS champions new model of services for people with intellectual disabilities

FEAPS yesterday hosted a conference where nearly 200 professionals discussed new ways of providing support and services catering specifically to the individual needs of people with intellectual disabilities.

The event, taking place in Madrid, aimed at discussing means of achieving greater social inclusion on a longer-term basis for people with intellectual disabilities. According to FEAPS, the current service delivery model does not effectively meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities, thus professionals are targeting a less interventionist solution that places the person with an intellectual disability at the centre of the debate on support systems.

Named “Let’s change our horizon. Towards person-centred support systems,” the conference analysed and outlined successful examples of the provision of care based on the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Vice President of FEAPS Puerto Mario, inaugurated the conference describing a desperate need for a European Union that encourages a “smart, sustainable and inclusive economy” before further stating that FEAPS could play a central role in protecting affected individuals and their families’ right to a dignified life.

During his closing remarks on the annual conference, Director of Imserso Caesar Anton, outlined the “innovation” with which FEAPS had tackled new challenges in a difficult situation. He went further to state that all stakeholders, from organisations to politicians, working within the welfare state must cooperate to find a long-lasting solution to a care system that often ignores the best interests of those at its heart.

The conference was held at the headquarters of Imserso, a social services institute, on 14 October, and featured discussion from FEAPS member organisations working to support people with intellectual disabilities.

To read more about the event, you can read FEAPS’ press release here (in Spanish).