Lithuanian welfare society for persons with mental disability VILTIS
“Viltis” was founded in November 1989. 53 Associate members bring together over 11 thousand of persons with intellectual disabilities, their parents and/or guardians.
Parents understood that individually it is difficult to represent interests of their children with disability and the family. So the process of uniting parents insto societies has started. It was the beginning of establishment of “Viltis” and its branches in various parts of Lithuania. Thus parents expressed their civil position. It was the chance for parents to achieve their goals through NGOs – to make the life of their children better and create the opportunity for parents to work. Together it is always easier to promote ideas and get results. Viltis activity is one of examples of NGO, it is part of a civil society.
OUR VISION - to be the main force ensuring legal and equal participation in public life, to represent interests of persons with disabilities and their parents/ guardians at all levels, protect their civil, social and human rights.
OBJECTIVES
· To seek full integration of people with mental disabilities into society.
· To rally children, young people and adults with disabilities, their families, caregivers and other persons acting in their interests.
· To promote ecologic, medical, social prevention of mental disorder, to do the utmost to identify it at the earliest stage of a child‘s development.
· To encourage development and practical implementation of rehabilitation methods for persons with mental disability.
· To protect social, civil rights, freedoms and dignity of children, young people, adults with mental disability and their families, to meet their social, cultural and other needs .
· To creat positive conditions for performance of obligations, choice, participation in public life.
ACTIVITIES
· Establishment of day care centers, family support centers.
· Ongoing long-term legislative program seeking to create a new concept of disability based on principles of human rights and self- advocacy.
· Extension of stationary and non-stationary community-based social services for persons with mental disability, their parents and guardians.
· Creation of parents support groups to help them overcome crisis in the family.
· Development of network of transport services for people with mental disability.
· Creation an opportunity of recreation for families and people with mental disabilities in summer psychosocial rehabilitation camps.
· Organize seminars, training courses for professionals, parents and volunteers working with disabled persons.
· Issue of Magazine "Viltis”.
· Participation in international projects, sharing experience with Eastern, Central European, Asian and the Balkan countries. The projects performed during the last years:
2009-2010 - Ratification of convention on the rights of persons with disability
2010-2013 – Improvement of quality of life for persons with disability through close cooperation
2013-2015 – Respite care service – help and unfettered freedom for families raising persons with mental disability
“Viltis” cooperates with other organizations for persons with disabilities, established in the Republic of Lithuania, local municipalities, education, health care, social service agencies, other international organizations, non-government organizations. “Viltis” is an acting member of international organizations.Viltis is the founder of several pubic organizations:Vilties Akimirka, IKSC, Pajurio Akimirka. Vilties Akimirka renders mixed social services for persons with severe disabilities:
· Day care services for persons with severe disability;
· Family support program;
· Special transport services for persons with mental disorder and their parents.
It has been proved that mixed social services are more effective, cheaper and ensure greater independence for a disabled person. Attendants of the centre: 22 young persons from Vilnius and its regions. Age of the oldest one makes 34 years. 80% of attendants – persons with mixed severe disability, 20% - persons with light or middle form of disability. The staff of the centre: 1 psichologist, 6 social workers, 4 - assistants of social workers, 1 kinezotherapist.
Vilties Akimirka e-mail: viltiesakimirka@viltis.lt Lithuanian welfare society for persons with mental disability „Viltis“: e-mail: viltis@vitlis.lt
Viltis is ready to participate in the project and has some goals: to get positive experience in issues of intellectual disability of more advanced countries, as UK and Italy, to get knowledge about respite care cervices arranged in the countries of partners, to share its own experience in arranging of summer rehabilitation program for persons with intellectual disability and their family members, to get acquainted with methods of foreign organizations working in the field of intellectual disability.
Address:
Kareiviu str. 2C,
LT- 08248 Vilnius
Phone. (8~5) 2615223, fax. (8~5) 2610820 www.viltis.lt
