Association for the Care of People with Disabilities of Rodopi Prefecture “axiZO”
The Association for the Care of People with Disabilities of Rodopi Prefecture “axiZO” was founded in 1981 by parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities and concerned citizens of the Rodopi region. Since then, our primary goal and main mission has been the protection and support of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Rodopi and, more broadly, throughout the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
In 2018, we inaugurated our Day Care Center, which was built on privately owned land and is fully equipped and staffed by 63 professionals including scientific, support, and administrative personnel. The center currently serves 72 individuals, both adults and minors with intellectual disabilities, offering recreational, educational, creative, and support programs.
In July 2020, we began operating the first three Supported Living Residences in the Rodopi region, accommodating 9 adults with intellectual disabilities who reside there on a 24/7 basis. In March 2022, we opened our fourth residence, hosting 4 beneficiaries, and in October 2022, we launched a fifth residence, currently home to 3 residents. The individuals living in these homes feel they are truly at home and view their co-residents as family.
In 2020, we established a Music Workshop, as part of a program supported by the Bodossaki Foundation, which, combined with the Ministry of Culture programs we participate in annually, has enabled ongoing access to cultural activities through theatrical and musical performances and the creation of artistic workshops.
In October 2021, we founded the private capital company “axiZO,” which supports the work of our Association. The company was created to actively contribute to our mission and is involved in the production of jams, spoon sweets, pasta, sauces, and various handmade crafts. What sets our company apart is that, alongside employees with typical development, individuals with intellectual disabilities are also employed.
Through their work, we have paved the way for greater accessibility to employment for people with intellectual disabilities and, more importantly, have broken down stereotypes and prejudices surrounding intellectual disabilities in the workplace. For this effort, our Association received the “Highly Commended” distinction in the “Socially Inclusive and Innovative Future” category of the awards organized by the European Network for Rural Development.
In January 2023, we launched our Counseling Center, a facility that provides support and guidance to families of children with intellectual disabilities and autism, and also functions as an early intervention center. This gives new parents timely and direct access to therapies for their children, allowing for immediate response to potential issues and offering proper guidance and support from trained professionals.
Finally, our Association holds Special Certification for Primary and Secondary Social Care as well as ISO 9001:2015 Certification from TUV HELLAS S.A. for all its structures.