The Parents’ Association of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities was founded in 2004 by parents through their anxiety about the lack of a structure in the field of Supported Living for adult people with mental retardation.

In 2006 the process of renovating the facilities in Neochori of Chios was completed and the effort to integrate into programs funded by the Ministry of Health began. In 2007, the operating license of “Supported Living Accommodation – Residential Institution” was issued for the establishment of the “Dionysios Residential Institution”, based on law 3394/2007. At the same time, a project financed by the ESF and the Ministry of Employment for staff training was implemented.

In 2012, the Ministry of Health decided to co-finance with the NSRF program 2007-2013 for the operation of the first SLA in Chios for 365 days a year with 24-hour operation. After a year, the reconstruction and equipping of the building was ensured with funds from the NSRF 2007-2013 and the cooperation of the Chios Regional Unit.

In 2016, the “Supported Living Accommodation – Apartment” was established and operated, as well as the issuance of an operating license for the social structure entitled “Day Care Center (DCC)” in order to join the NSRF 2014-2020. In 2017, the conclusion of a financing agreement was arranged with the National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision.

In 2018, the DCC officially started its operation, as well as the operation of the 3^rd SLA. In 2020, the procedures for the operation and inclusion of the 4^th SLA in the NSRF program began.

Our organization now consists of four SLAs and a DCC, serves 18 beneficiaries in SLAs and 25 beneficiaries in DCC. We aim to develop a network of SLAs in the prefecture of Chios and in the rest of the North Aegean region.

MARGARITA Vocational Training Center (MARGARITA VTC) is an organization with more than 40 years of experience in educational and vocational training of young people with intellectual disabilities in Attica, Greece. It was founded in 1979 by Ioanna Tsokopoulou, mother of Leonidas, a child with Down Syndrome.

The aim of MARGARITA is the empowerment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in order to become more autonomous and active citizens in an inclusive society. For this reason, to this day MARGARITA offers user-centered services to its service users and their families based on their wishes, needs and talents in the following fields:

• human rights,
• supported employment,
• supported decision making,
• self-advocacy,
• development of new training tools,
• supported living,
• social entrepreneurship,
• art
• and services of the elderly.

MARGARITA has been responsible for the implementation of European and national projects and is a member of important European consortia.

At the same time, it develops initiatives and good practices, two of which are:

• 13m2Gallery that operates since 2018 in the Municipal Market of Kypseli, is part of the wider project “Artistic Margarita” together with the Atelier and the Troupe creating a unit where talented beneficiaries have the opportunity to develop professionally in the field of art
• and the digital platform ergasiamou.gr that organizes and supports the access of people with intellectual disabilities to the labour market.

MARGARITA is a member of European and international umbrella organizations (e.g., EASPD, ENCC, etc.).

ELEPAP- Rehabilitation for The Disabled is the oldest non-profit charity organization in Greece providing rehabilitation services to children since 1937. It currently operates high-level facilities and has 6 branches throughout Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki, Chania, Ioannina, Volos and Agrinion).

Our mission is to provide Lifelong Support and access to rehabilitation programs to all persons with disabilities and their families, regardless of financial, social or religious circumstances. Our aim is to help our Brave Kids and adults with disabilities to take small or big steps, to take “Life Steps”.

Our vision is for every child with a disability, wherever he lives in Greece, to have the care he needs. In this way, he will be able to reach his full potential, have a place in society, have a job, personal life, friends, a partner, be able to have fun and live independently.

The organization is open to infants, children and adults and provides therapeutic programs, education and medical care to them as well as support and counselling services to their families.

ELEPAP stands by the children and helps them develop their potential for social integration and access to the formal school system. It is quite remarkable that 50-60% of our children manage to achieve this.

All along this journey we make sure to be at the side of the children’s families every step of the way. We create a spirit of solidarity, cooperation and trust where anything is possible.

In addition, it is important for us to help our children who have grown up, and need us as adults, to learn to rely on their own strength. Like all adults with disabilities.

Implementing targeted actions to provide adults with disabilities:

• independent and secure living
• education
• professional training and rehabilitation

The National Council of YMCAs  in Greece, represents the World Alliance of YMCAs which is the oldest and largest international voluntary youth organization for young people, founded in 1844. The NC of YMCAs, operates today in 119 countries, counting more than 58 million members.In Greece, The National Council of YMCAs  has been operating through the Headquarters of YMCA Athens ,YMCA Salonica and its departments  for over  than  100 years.

The National Council of YMCAs  in Greece aims at:

• Main general and ideological policy making of YMCAs in Greece.
• The coordination of the associations for the enhancement and advancement of their work so that they promote their main targets.
• Planning educational opportunities for the YMCA leaders.
• Providing educational programmes for the society and the disabled persons, their acception, inclusion, cooperation with them and their families, especially those who are economically weak.
• Establishing new Associations by the same principles around Greece.
• The communication with YMCAs worldwide for sharing experience as well as the operation of the campsites for the YMCA Greek and worldwide members, which is the major target of the Association.

In cooperation with the corresponding federations contributes to the development of sports with mobility vehicles (basketball, tennis, table tennis,fencing,chorus, boccia, ballet, theatre and other activities which provide human needs fulfilment and wellbeing, such as living in nature or camps.

The National Council of YMCAs  vision is the creation of assisting living places and daily centres The conformation many of its own buildings has already started, in order to achieve the appropriate certification of operation for disabled people on a daily basis, even when  they will not be  supported by their parents anymore.

Amimoni was founded in 1993 as a Nonprofit Organization with philanthropic status. It was founded by multiply disabled visually impaired children’s parents in order to meet the needs of children who were excluded from education and rehabilitation.

Today it runs 4 programs:

Early Intervention for children 0-6 years old

It is a home-based program which includes:

• Educational activities with the child and the carers
• Parent counseling

It also provides distance education and counseling to families who live outside Attica.

Day Center “IRIS”

• structured daily program
• individualized educational program
• Individual & group activities

It covers the needs of trainees aged 5 and above, with therapeutic interventions such as speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, physical and motor activities.

Guesthouse “Polichni”

It is an educational Program promoting semi-independent living.

It takes place from Friday to Monday, hosting 3-5 trainees, offering skills for independent life.

“Lilian Voudouri” Assisted Living Residence

The first – and still the only one – life-long residence in Greece for multiply disabled visually impaired people.  The main goals are:

• Institutionalization avoidance
• Excellent Care
• Enriched quality of life

Amimoni’s ultimate aim is to maximize each individual’s independence in daily living activities and improve their social integration.