OPOLNOMOČENJE OVIRANIH ZA AKTIVNOSTI V NARAVI

Our primary goals were twofold: 1. Empowering adults with disabilities (mental and/or physical) to engage more fully in outdoor activities, utilizing all senses, while simultaneously promoting a s...

Our primary goals were twofold: 1. Empowering adults with disabilities (mental and/or physical) to engage more fully in outdoor activities, utilizing all senses, while simultaneously promoting a sustainable mindset. 2. Acquiring new competencies for staff working with individuals with disabilities, enabling them to further empower people with disabilities. To achieve this, we aimed to: - Facilitate the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in outdoor activities, particularly cycling and therapeutic horseback riding, by removing barriers preventing their participation. - Foster a heightened sense of environmental care among individuals with disabilities. - Develop sustainable activities to enhance sensory integration in nature, utilizing natural materials. - Combat the stigma that "people with disabilities don't engage in physical activity." - Expand inclusive sports activities and promote equality for all. - Improve the physical and mental health of individuals with disabilities and staff. - Enhance the capacity of smaller partners for international cooperation and development. - Incorporate new sustainable activities into the regular operations of project organizations: inclusive cycling and outdoor sensory integration.

Activities for staff working with individuals with disabilities: Staff education on caring for the health of individuals with disabilities (lectures/workshops on the importance of sports for physical and mental well-being of individuals with disabilities, adaptations of sports activities for them, first aid, hippotherapy, basic psychological support, and motivation). Practical training for companions in safe and enjoyable cycling for people with disabilities. Staff education on inclusive nature care. Training on mental health care for individuals with disabilities (mindfulness techniques, meditation, sensory integration). Organized outdoor gatherings with nature conservation education and sensory integration. Presentation of creative works as sensory use best practices. Activities for individuals with disabilities: Physical health care (motivation workshops, first aid, proper movement, hippotherapy). Cycling on adapted bikes. Practical education on inclusive nature care. Workshops on maintaining and enhancing mental health. Workshops activating all senses in a sensory park. Outdoor activities in nature for individuals with disabilities - hiking, Nordic walking, and therapeutic riding. Other: dissemination, project management.

- New knowledge for staff at the UVID and COOKT, disability organizations, VDC, and relatives of disabled (importance of physical activity for physical/mental health, practical adaptations of sports activities for disabilities, first aid, psychological support, mindfulness, meditation, sensory integration, nature conservation). - Improvement of personal assistants' competencies at the UVID and introduction of new knowledge into their training program. - Enhancement of teachers' competencies and introduction of new knowledge into the regular COOKT program. - Acquisition of new knowledge for individuals with disabilities (importance of physical activity for mental/physical health, basics of first aid and self-help, adapted cycling, therapeutic horseback riding, nature conservation, mindfulness, meditation, sensory integration, activation of all senses, outdoor sports activities...). - 2 adapted bicycles for individuals with disabilities (simple tricycle and high-quality tricycle with electric support). - Regular program of inclusive cycling. - Establishment of a sensory park in Krapinske Toplice (mobile sensory path, communication board). - Increased care for nature in target groups and partner organizations.