Social support for people with hearing impairments in the community
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25128/2520-6230.25.3.6Keywords:
social work, social inclusion, people with hearing impairments, mentors, volunteers, projectAbstract
The article summarizes the experience of implementing a social project supported by the Abilis Foundation, titled «Support for Mentors from Among People with Hearing Impairments». The project enabled social inclusion for individuals with hearing impairments, providing them with new knowledge and practical experience to foster active engagement through education, the development of personal strengths, social skills formation, and motivation for social change within the community. Thanks to the project, people with hearing impairments have acquired the status of active participants in public life and agents of change for others with similar challenges, acting as motivators in generating creative ideas to improve quality of life and enhance safety under wartime conditions.
The expansion of the mentor network and the improvement of mentor qualifications proved timely and appropriate. This was achieved through regular training sessions and seminars for new mentors, the use of online platforms, and the organization of outreach roundtables to facilitate experience-sharing between communities.
Noteworthy is the creation and implementation of educational programs aimed at developing financial literacy, leadership skills, stress management, and civic initiative among individuals with hearing impairments. Efforts were also made to improve communication for people with hearing impairments through the implementation of information and social service access technologies, as well as training activities on how to use these technologies. The project also strengthened cross-sectoral cooperation through meetings and webinars with representatives of NGOs, local authorities, and educational institutions, promoting experience exchange, best practices, and the organization of joint projects and initiatives.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Oksana Kravchenko, Iryna Serancha, Alla Voitovska, Andrii DZYHOVSKYI
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