FAMILIES, TRANSITIONS AND CULTURAL PLURALISM

Tali Porat
Graduate of the Training Apartment program

What is the purpose of the Training Apartment?

The future of a person with special needs is full of difficult questions. How will I do? Where with I live?

The Training Apartment program offers people with special needs a place to practice living on their own.

After the Training Apartment particpants can move into an independent living community.

This way, any fears or problems can be taken from the particpant and their families.

Who participates in the program?

There are participants of all different ages and stages in life.

 
Many participants come from special schools or sheltered workplaces.

This way, many participnats already know each other before joining the program.

The group members are also selected and supervised by a staff member and helps them to work together.

Good interaction between the group members is very important for the success of the training.

How it all works

We are a democratic apartment: that means everyone gets say what they want.

Everyone should express their wishes and take part in decisions like: what should be cooked or where to go and, of course, to share fears or worries.

Over time it will become easier to express and be aware of feelings and thoughts.

Self confidence will also increase as time goes on.

When you understand yourselg better, it is easier to get along woth others.

During the day, two or three staff members are present in the apartment. This way individual, private conversations are possible.

Sometimes the group will also split up into smaller groups and do different activities.

The activities include going out just for fun, getting to know each other and making new experiences, like going to cinema, cafes and shopping, for example.