Serviço de Psiquiatria Forense Promoting a sense of belonging by educational inclusion: a pioneer project with people with psychiatric disorder in Portugal Dora Redruello Vânia Carvalho Cerebral Palsy Association of Coimbra

The Right to Participate Two definitions for participation: Participation in the meaning of being part of Participation in the meaning of assuring that the actions and the will of who participates are taken into account

The Right to Participate Right to express their opinions freely, being duly taken into consideration Entitled to receive all relevant information Right to be informed about the possible consequences of actions consistent with their opinions and possible consequences of their decisions Closely linked to the right of freedom of expression and the right to information (Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

New Opportunities Program and Inclusion How to empower people in situation of disadvantage through education?

Forensic Psychiatry Service

Group of 10 candidates From 22 to 59 years of age 3 females / 8 males Compromised mental functions

Defining a schedule Link activities to everyday life and needs Clarification and negotiation of goals and rules Division of labor within the group Respecting their rythms How to use education to enable people socially?

Training autonomy skills Showing them maximum respect Giving positive feedback How to use education to enable people socially?

Stakeholders Focus Group Professionals Constraints: Institutional and political/strategic "There are no educational responses because they are sick...” Capital gains: training autonomy skills, increased educational qualifications, positive reinforcement for the rehabilitation process "They felt valued, even in the training in public transportation...”

Stakeholders Focus Group Adults Constraints: difficulty in developing the activities at the hospital, lack of ability to concentrate, difficulty in maintaining the confidentiality of the work done "... put in memory and stay there!” "I had a hard time concentrating on the study because of all the lights and curiosity of people around here...."

Stakeholders Focus Group Adults Capital gains: computer skills, socialization, learning, perception of independence "I also did not leave the hospital unless with my family, but now I go alone” "The computer... everything!” "I learned about equipments, health, I also learned a bit of economy. All these themes."

Conclusions - Enabling people to recognize their own skills and knowledge - Working citizenship themes (participation, health, economy) - Training autonomy skills (bus, money management) - Giving them a higher education level, enabling them to belong diferently in the hierarchic chain of power How to empower people in situation of disadvantage through education?

Cerebral Palsy Association of Coimbra