Global-Report-Living-Colour-dr2-2

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Inclusive Communities = Stronger Communities
GLOBAL REPORT ON ARTICLE 19: THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY
ISRAEL Gili achieved targets which
only few people reach. He lives a full
and fulfilling life: for the last 20 years
he performs in the AKIM "other
theater", performing throughout
Israel. He is the proud winner of gold
and silver medals at the "Specials
Olympics International" and national
games in aquatic sports – swimming.
In 1994 he parachuted – tandem
style.
Gili is often invited to speak before a
forum of people –describing his life
and the meaning of down syndrome
recently, He was part of a small
committee that examined the
modification of the term "mental
retardation". The committee consisted
of the director of the ministry of
welfare, the legal advisor of the
ministry, two representatives of the
ministry and representatives of AKIM
Israel. Gili expressed the common
feeling of dissatisfaction from the
term and the conclusion of the
committee was to officially change
the term to "intellectual disabilities".
Gili has been employed for the last
13 years at the Cellcom
telecommunications company – and
performs a regular job well
appreciated.
In Romania, we heard from three young self-advocates
who successfully moved from an institutional environment
to small apartments in Timisoara. In the institution they
lived in a large group, had little to do and, experienced
punishment. The three women now have paid
employment, get support from NGO Pentru Voi, and are
living in their community. One of the women realized her
dream of owning a dog.
A young man in Japan told us the following:
“I live by myself. I decided live by myself after I consulted
with my mother, sister, brother and the staff of my
institution. I like where I live. In my free time, I enjoy
watching baseball games and my favorite girl announcers
and AKB48 (J-pop girls group) on TV. I also go shopping
and read some books. To live by myself, some neighbors
help me. And sometimes I talk to them. I use home care
workers to live in the community independently. Also
neighbors help me when I am in trouble.”