Personalised tools for the personalised needs

Minster of Hungarian Ministry of national resources visited the Rehabilitation Centre for physically disabled people (MEREK), where used assistive tools are adapted and repaired for disabled  and pyhsicially handicapped people on the basis of individual assessment. Miklos Rethelyi declared to the government party: network is unique, due to the regional workshops disabled people do not have to travel to the capital city. From the September 2008 within a priority project, MEREK developed a network in which seven service rooms have been built, that serves independent living within the New Development Plan Social Renewel program. In the workshops maintained by MEREK,  mainly changed capacity people are working, they adapt different tools adjusting to personal condition and needs, through ICF (International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health)

In our workshops excellent experts and teams are working –pointed out Mihaly Kogon professional leader, director of MEREK.  He highlighted: that our project is viable, as currently in Hungary, it is difficult or impossible to have personalised therapeutic equipment, however these tools are essential  in order to prevent decline of state, either to their independent and integrated life. 

We would like to spread our network, and we have few ideas to develop them. We plan to have the accreditation of vocational education for the innovative ICF system,  already used int he international practice. He emphasized through having the program accreditation system theoritical and practical education we contribute to specialists’ work, they will more easily choose the most appropriate tools for the needs of vulnerable groups.

Mihaly Kogon said, that they have tools to rent as well. In our opinions and based on our international experience it would better fit to the purpose if the tools bo ught by state funds would remain in the property of state. Disadvantaged person would get them only for the period when the tools are the most proper for their needs.

Considering that a physically handicapped person could use only a wheel-chair at maximum three years. After he grew out the device, he can get a new one, and the old one would be placed in the garage or it could be presented. With the renting method we could create such a warehouse, where used, and outgrown devices could be repaired and after the necessary adaptations they could be rent again. It would be the most reasonable, and cost-effective solution, if it could be applied at national level.

Miklos Rethelyi told that after having  viewed the service room and few adapted tools he told to the government portal that Gurulo service room is unique, because there are working such experts who really know and focus on the needs of disabled people.

They have an approach to their problems with aspect of disabled people’s, it does not exist elsewhere.

I greet that this initiation is not only for Budapest, but it is national one, due to the regional workshops, the disabled and physcially handicapped people do not have to travel to the capital city to take these services.-he said.

Throuhg applying international experience and the practices already used in Western Europe, they facilitate the life of vulnerable groups, which is a fantastic achievement – highlighted the minstre.

After showing the service room, Mihaly Kogon asked Miklos Réthelyi to be the patronate in the conference of MEREK planned for October, minister gladly accepted it

Resource: kormany.hu