amounts of equipment to the project base in Transylvania .
This has enabled the establishment of a loan scheme . Simultaneously , there was a need to provide training to local staff – mostly volunteers – in basic equipment provision , such as measuring for walking aids and wheelchairs , fitting bath boards , toilet seats , grab rails and making minor home adaptations .
In addition , it has needed support in setting up internal processes and systems to manage the organisational aspects of the loan scheme .
Using a ‘ loan ’ model , rather than giving items away , has , in our experience , opened up crucially important opportunities .
In poorer communities there can be a tendency for items to be obtained for onward sale . Of importance in the process of giving equipment and to avoid misuse of donated items , has been the need to clearly identify the person with a disability .
Developing a relationship with these individuals and their families has frequently identified other basic needs , such as for food , clothing , or medical attention , which can be addressed at the time of assessment or dealt with in due course .
Sometimes it has required a role in advocating for alternative housing , although this is hard to come by , and provided the information to allow for retrieval of equipment at a later date .
By establishing relationships with individuals and their caregivers over time , it has also highlighted the need to offer ongoing support . The ‘ loan ’ model is responsive to changing needs , which is particularly important for the children who need reassessment and changes to their equipment as they grow and become more able as the result of interventions .
Importantly , the local team has identified the need for regular groups for social activity , music ,
Above : Social activity group with disabled children and young adults and hospital beds awaiting distribution in Romania
spiritual nurturing , physical therapy , awareness of safeguarding concerns – for all age groups – as well as caregiver support groups and training .
For many families this provision is their only interaction with anyone outside of the home during an entire week .
These groups have become close knit and the local team , along with volunteers from local churches , provide days out and a week ’ s holiday during the year . In this way , cultural barriers are reduced and preconceptions of disability are altered .
From a handful of disabled people meeting in an apartment , the need now is for a space to facilitate upwards of 150 adults and children , when they all meet .
Upskilling local teams
Over the years and with ongoing visits we have been able to work with the local team to upskill them and embed an occupational therapy model of practice – the Person-Environment-Occupation- Performance model ( Baum et al 2015 ) – within their work with the beneficiaries .
June 2022 OTnews 37