“SYZOI” – the Association of parents, guardians and friends of visually impaired children with additional disabilities, such as autism, mental retardation, neurological disorders, motor or sensory discrepancies, was founded in Thessaloniki Greece, in 2007 and is a certified provider of social care services, is a non-government, non-profit organization, which aims to provide lifelong support and to achieve, among others: 

• High level of therapeutic programs in order to reach maximum of potential
• Education and vocational training of visually impaired children with additional disabilities
• Psychological and social support of the children as well as counselling to their families
• Promotion of scientific research on both prevention and rehabilitation
• Social Awareness on multiple disabilities

A better life and a more autonomous future.

The Institute of Systemic Behavior Analysis (ISAS) was founded in 2010.  It is a non-for-profit organization aiming to provide optimal educational and therapeutic services for children with Neurodevelopmental and other Disabilities or Difficulties. Aside from the therapeutic and pedagogical endeavors, there is an emphasis on research and applications of the Systemic Behavior Analytic Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Basic Aims of ISAS:

Clinical/Therapeutic and Educational Purposes:

The scope of ISAS encompasses infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with special needs and with difficulties in adjusting properly to their family, school, and social environment. The ultimate target of service providing at ISAS is an optimal adjustment for all recipients as defined by themselves, their families, and their therapeutic team. To reach optimal outcomes, it is considered important to understand the needs of the service recipients in a systemic context. That is, defined by the systems, sub-systems, and ultra-systems with which each recipient interacts dynamically. Each service recipient is viewed within the complexity defined by his/her needs and the complexity of contextual parameters to which he/she needs to adjust. Thus, language, communication, social and emotional development, behavioral adjustment, social inclusion and several others, are all areas targeted at ISAS to achieve an optimal outcome. In addition, involving the family in the therapeutic process is considered to be critical for the therapeutic outcome. Parents are not only trained to reach a co-therapeutic level of involvement, but they are also supported through palliative care which is the case for siblings as well.

Research Purposes:

Rigorous research has been conducted at ISAS aiming to advance the teaching and therapeutic technology of Behavior Analysis to achieve improved outcomes for all service recipients, with an emphasis on systemic early behavior-analytic intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For research purposes, ISAS is affiliated with distinguished academic settings, such as the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and North Texas University, as well as prestigious foundations such as the Onassis Foundation.

Life-Long Education, Staff Development, and Supervision:

The Institute aims to disseminate the Systemic Behavior Analytic Model by participating or organizing conferences, staff-development seminars, and supervisory practices. The recipients of those services are psychologists, psychiatrists, general education teachers, speech and occupational therapists, as well as other educational and mental health professionals.

The Vision of ISAS is the provision of ample opportunities for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults to adjust to their home and school environment as well as to their social milieu in ways that enhance the quality of life for them and their families. Opening venues that may help them redefine meaning for their everyday lives.

“Ploes” is a Non-Governmental Organization, founded in 1998, by mental health professionals from different scientific sectors and training fields.

Now, more than 100 people are employed in all of its projects. Mental health professionals, social workers, occupational and speech therapists, special education professionals, child psychiatrists, psychologists, are under the umbrella of “Ploes” E.Psy.Me.

The ongoing projects and services are addressed to citizens affected by autism spectrum disorders, mental and psychiatric disabilities, in the urban environment of Piraeus and surrounding suburbs, (region of Attica).

“Ploes” Organisation is committed to tackling social exclusion by enhancing service users’ social and mental wellbeing.

Our services are based on the principles of social psychiatry, which consider mental disabilities as a phenomenon of multiple and complicated factors. It is our strong belief that negative current and future consequences can be limited by using constant, appropriate and effective scientific methods of prevention and intervention. The fundamental principles of all our services and action plans derive from this approach.

“Ploes” Organisation’s facilities include:

• Daycare Centre for treating children with autism spectrum disorders (K.HM.A 1)
• Specialized Centre of Professional Training for adult disabled people.
• Diagnostics and Therapeutics Units for prevention and psychosocial rehabilitation of children and adult population
• “Schedia” Social Club for people with intellectual disabilities
• Vocational Training in Mental Health “Katarti”, offers training courses and seminars in dedicated fields of mental health services by certified trainers, both for professionals, the general population and for those with special needs.
• Daycare centre (K.HM.A. 2), for teenagers and adults with autism spectrum disorders
• “Ostria” Boarding house for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities
• Guesthouse for adolescents with psychosocial difficulties
• Research, Development & European Projects Department

The Panhellenic Association of Adapted Activities “ALMA” is a non-profit association, that was created in 1996, by a group of scientists of various specialties in the field of special education that wanted to contribute to the acceptance of diversity in all aspects of life.

During all these years we design and implement a number of programs for children, adolescents and adults with autism and mental disability aiming at their psychosocial development and full integration into a society of equal opportunities, while supporting their family.

We are close to the family from the difficult time of accepting the diagnosis until the lifelong rehabilitation of the young person with a disability in a House of Supported Living.

We begin with early intervention and support the child in all aspects of his/her life as a parallel family, inspiring both the child with disabilities and his family to discover the power of diversity.

Through educational, sports and cultural activities we provide holistic therapeutic individualized intervention that suits the needs of each of our children or adults.

All our actions are designed according to the triptych of our philosophy:

• Education and integration of the person with a disability
• Support and discharge of the family
• Information and raise of community awareness

Year after year, ALMA team grows and evolves, embracing more and more people with and without disabilities and their families.

“Merimna Paidiou Katerinis” is a Greek non-profit NGO that was founded in 1979 in Katerini by a handful of concerned citizens. Our latin logo-name is “Care for the mentally disabled of Pieria”. Our purpose is to advance the rights and well-being of disabled persons especially the one with mental disability, autism, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities.

This has been accomplished so far in two ways. By running facilities that provide services to persons with disabilities and with actions in the community that shape a better society, a society of inclusion through education and awareness.

Currently we have two facilities in operation that provide Day Care services to the persons of the province of Pieria with disabilities. Their total capacity is 91. At these facilities, among the day care, there are also programs of therapies (speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy), preparation for autonomous or semi- autonomous living, sports, leisure, psychological support etc.

Since the beginning of 2020 we have begun the operation of three houses of semi-autonomous living where a total 12 people are accommodated. People with disabilities have the right to live independently and choose their future on their own. In these houses we provide the needed assistance to fulfill this goal. Our target is to expand this action, make a net of houses throughout the province and meet the full demand for independent living in our area.

Merimna is also carrying a series of action in order to raise awareness of the public regarding the rights of persons with disabilities and their inclusion in the society. An educational program approved by the Ministry of Education is performed every year to the students of the high school classes. The target is to shape an ethic code for the citizens of tomorrow. A code that makes them respect disability. After all disability is not just a personal medical problem but it is also a problem of the society, its structure and way of functioning.

The Child and Adolescent’s Center was founded in 1996 and is the largest Urban Non-Profit Organization in Greece based in the province, on the remote island of Chios, and one of the most dynamic in the field of mental health in the country.

The philosophy of the Child and Adolescent’s Center is inspired by the principles of Social and Community Psychiatry. The activities and services of the Child and Adolescent’s Center are provided within the community, without removing the mentally ill from their physical / social environment, ensuring the continuous care with the active participation of the community. The Child and Adolescent’s Center participates in the psychiatric reform in Greece with two institutions, which are included in the National Action Plan “Psychargos”.

The aim of the Child and Adolescent’s Center is the improvement of the quality of life for children, teenagers and adults in the areas of Mental Health and Special Education in Chios and in Attica. It also aims at prevention, prompt diagnosis, therapy, scientific research, planning and implementing programmes of public health, education and sensitization of the community.

Our vision

A world that talks about mental health comfortably and recognizes, understands and accepts the diversity of people with psychiatric / psychological / developmental disorders.

Our mission

• Το work every day to create a better future for people with psychiatric / psychological / developmental disorders and their families, offering quality Mental Health and Special Education services.
• To implement information and awareness actions of the public, with the ultimate goal of eliminating discrimination, so that our beneficiaries enjoy their lives more and more, coexisting in society without exclusions.
• To train mental health professionals to improve the services they offer to beneficiaries and careers, helping to improve the quality of life for both.

The activities of the organisation, which later would be founded as the Social Work Foundation (SWF), started in 1946 as the Greek branch of a foreign humanitarian organisation called Global Ministries aimed to help reconstruct Greece after the Second World War, primarily focusing on social welfare. In 1967, the organisation was founded in Athens, in its present, legal form, as a public welfare, non-profit organisation.

Staffed by social workers and other professionals, the Foundation was recognised for its pioneering services in the area of social welfare, while also establishing applied social work as a discipline in Greece. The Foundation applied a series of programs for families in crisis, the elderly and individuals with disability, primarily focusing on urban community development and rehabilitation.

In 1973, the Social Work Foundation founded the Children Support and Rehabilitation Centre (C.S.R.C.) for children with cerebral palsy and similar conditions. In 1985, with the help of the I.K.Hadjipateras family, the Centre moved to new modern facilities in Metamorphosis in Athens (Attica). CSRC services are based on a day-care programme, a drop-in service for school-aged students requiring support in education, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, a daily living skills programme and an individualised intervention scheme for infants, as an early intervention scheme.

Between 1983-2005, the Foundation worked with the High Commission for Refugees of the United Nations to implement the first program for refugees and asylum seekers in Greece.

Also between 1985-1997, the Foundation implemented vocational training programs in computer sciences for young adults with physical disability, aged between 16-25, where a substantial number of graduates were pushed to the labour market.

The Foundation is chartered with the National Register of Non-Profit Private Sector Organisations Providing Social Care Services and the Special Register of Non-Profit Private Sector of Volunteer Non-Governmental Organisations.

“PAMMAKARISTOS” Foundation for Child” is a non-profit, philanthropic organization, that offers specialized educational and social support services to persons with autism, intellectual disability and other socio-economic challenges. “PAMMAKARISTOS” Foundation for Child” is the further transformation of “PAMMAKARISTOS” Children’s Summer Camps” that were established in 1945. In 1978, “PAMMAKARISTOS” was fully recognized by the Prefecture of Eastern Attica as a social service provider to Persons with Disabilities (P w D). Today, it is a recognized & certified service provider to P w D that belongs to the official Registry of the Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs.

“PAMMAKARISTOS” Foundation for Child” is managed by a seven-member Board of Directors and it is situated in Nea Makri, Attica on an overall land area of 20 acres, which includes buildings of 6.000 sq. m., allotted to the constitutional missions of the Foundation.

The coverage of special needs of persons with serious, developmental, educational and socio-economic challenges, became the main mission of the Foundation.

However from the early ‘90s, “PAMMAKARISTOS” Foundation for Child”, further specialized its services for persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability. It concentrated scientifically and organizationally on populations with ASD which –because of the particularity of ASD and the high incidence of autism in the general population (1/54 children)- represent to the day, a serious educational & social challenge. Following the developing scientific research and educational approaches on ASD, it became a Specialized Educational Centre for Autism, the oldest Autism centre in Greece.

Over the years “PAMMAKARISTOS” Foundation for Child” has serviced more than 5.000 disabled persons.

At the moment the “PAMMAKARISTOS” serves 120 persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability, ranging from the whole spectrum of functionality, with services of:

• a Daily Care Centre (ΚΔΗΦ),
• a Centre for the Creative Occupation of P w D (ΚΔΑΠ Α με Α),
• temporary hospitality for girls with ASD and a challenged socio-economic background,
• free time & respite care programs for the accommodated persons and their families,
• special education & groundwork for the transition to supported community living &
• education & vocational training for the transition to supported employment.

“Theotokos” Foundation is a non-profit welfare organization for the Children and Young Adults  with Developmental Disorders and has been operating since 1963. The facilities of the Foundation are located in the Municipality of Ilion and occupy an area of ​​51 acres. The Foundation provides Non-Profit Prevention, Recovery and Rehabilitation Services to people with Mental Developmental Disabilities & Autism Spectrum Disorders, from Early Childhood to Young Adult Life.

Vision – Purpose

Since its establishment, the Foundation aims at the social integration of people with developmental problems. It subsequently adopted the UN General Assembly Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in New York on 13 December 2006, which entered into force on 4 May 2008.

“The purpose of the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. People with disabilities include people with long-term physical, mental, spiritual or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various obstacles can hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal footing with others.”

The following general principles of this Convention define the care Services provided by the Foundation:

1. respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and the independence of individuals,
2. non-discrimination,
3. complete and effective participation and integration into society,
4. respect for diversity and the acceptance of people with disabilities as part of human diversity / diversity and humanity
5. equality of opportunity,
6. accessibility,
7. equality between men and women,
8. respect for the evolving potential of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to retain their identity.

At the same time, the Foundation adopted the bio-psychosocial model of the WHO. (World Health Organization) on a holistic approach to dealing with disability. Thus, people with intellectual – developmental disorders enjoy services that are tailored to each beneficiary individually and focus on their best possible functionality based on the International Classification of Functional Disability & Health (I.C.F.).

Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door, a registered non-profit organization, was founded in 1972 to offer people with cerebral palsy in Greece a place in the sun.

Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door never isolated itself or the people in its care.  On the contrary, it aims at overcoming the barriers created by ignorance and prejudice and building firm bridges of communication. We offer respect, support, encouragement, and hope to people with disabilities in every walk of life, while supporting the family, training specialized staff, enlightening the public and encouraging scientific research particularly as to the causes and means of prevention of cerebral palsy.

These aims characterize all our work, and with our pioneering spirit we constantly open up new pathways and widen the horizons for people with cerebral palsy.

We believe that education, culture and art are defining factors in the life of every human being, and we are determined to never give up as long as there is one child, teenager or adult in need of help, as we will never cease hoping for a brave new world that we can all share as equals.

The Open Door Centre of Education and Rehabilitation provides a wide range of services and programs of high quality for the education, rehabilitation, recreation and social inclusion of 240 children, young people and adults on a daily basis.

CPG/OD has received a series of awards over the years “for outstanding service in the field of disability”, including the highest award from the Greek Academy, and the Gold Cross of the Order  of Bienfaisance from the President of the Greek Republic.

Apart from the “NET”, CPG is the Organizational Member for Greece of the International Cerebral Palsy Society (ICPS), member of the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) and member of the “Together for Children” Association.