The ADISA project – Rehabilitation and Inclusion in Guatemala

ADISA, a partner of the Christian Blind Mission (CBM), works to improve the living conditions of persons with disabilities in Guatemala. To this end, the organisation has set up a comprehensive, community-based rehabilitation programme that CBM supports. The programme works in health, education and training, as well as social and political work.

Persons with disabilities find community-based, rehabilitative support at ADISA – even in remote places.

ADISA stands for “Asociación de Padres y Amigos de Personas con Discapacidad” – “Association of Parents and Friends of Persons with Disabilities”. The headquarters and area of action are located around Santiago de Atitlán, a city located in the highlands of Guatemala. ADISA is particularly active here among the indigenous Mayan population in the department of Sololá. The project’s second location is in the district of Chiquimula, in the southeastern part of the country. CBM has been supporting the project since 2006.

However, the organisation itself is much older: Parents of children with disabilities founded it in 1988 against the background of a lack of care and assistance options. Over time, a small initiative became an agile, recognised organisation. Today, ADISA cares for persons with disabilities and plays a leading role in safeguarding their rights in Guatemala.

Therapeutic and rehabilitative care

Many therapies take place at the child's home in their familiar environment.

With the support of the project, persons with physical, mental or multiple disabilities receive support in the form of physiotherapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy. They can be treated at the ADISA offers support in a familiar home setting or at its centre, including animal-assisted therapy to engage withdrawn or introverted individuals.

If necessary, the project also provides the people in care with wheelchairs, walking aids, orthoses, prostheses or hearing aids. If a person in care needs special medical treatment, the project staff are also on hand to contact suitable specialists.

ADISA has even set up its network to treat clubfoot patients – specialists are trained in treating this disease in six different districts of Guatemala.

Early support and an inclusive approach

ADISA cooperates with mainstream schools to promote inclusion of children with disabilities.

The CBM partner is also very active in education: As part of an early intervention programme, it visits families with small children with disabilities. The aim is to raise parents’ awareness of their children’s unique needs and teach them skills for preschool support.

Inclusive teaching in mainstream schools

For older children, ADISA is particularly concerned about inclusive schooling. It organises the transport of children with disabilities so they can attend lessons in a regular school. The teachers in these schools receive special training to meet the unique requirements of inclusive teaching and the care of the children. For deaf children and their families, ADISA also offers special lessons in sign language.

Training secures the future

Salvador (right) became an accountant at ADISA after completing his training. He knows from his own experience how important the work of the project is.

Another focus of the project is on the vocational training and employment of persons with disabilities and their families. For example, adolescents and young adults with disabilities can also receive artistic and manual training; they learn to make jewellery from recycled materials.

With savings associations to start a business

Persons with disabilities and their families can also set up savings associations on a cooperative basis with the support of the project. This allows them to realise their small business ideas. They jointly manage the collective savings of all members and grant small loans to the member families for professional purposes.

Multi-level political engagement

Equal opportunities for all – a goal that the CBM-funded project is working towards sustainably.

The community-based work for persons with disabilities is complemented by ADISA's political commitment at the local and national levels.

The project is in close contact with political decision-makers and is intensively committed to the rights of persons with disabilities. It also involves those who are affected by their socio-political work. In doing so, the ADISA team has its sights firmly set on its goal of integrating persons with disabilities into society on an equal footing.