- People with intellectual disabilities also have the right to live independently, to decide where, how and with whom to live. That is what this year’s Atzegi campaign called for under the slogan “The Challenge of Living in My Way”. Nagore Bergara, 43, tells us her experience: she leaves her father's house and has lived with a roommate on her own for six years in the old town of San Sebastian.
“I am better at home, I have more peace of mind, more freedom,” says Bergara, who, in short, can enjoy a greater decision to organize his life. “We have no control in deciding where to go, what to eat, what to do…”. She also has the help of two times a week approaching the woman who helps them with household affairs (cleaning, shopping, weekly menu..) and accompanies them with accompaniment, emotional support. In addition, Martin Zabala, a Atzegi worker, has an hour a week to dedicate himself to many issues (doubts, concerns, efforts...) and has the collaboration of more members of Atzegi for many tasks.
In order to face the daily challenges and difficulties, they have the collaboration of the workers of the Association Guipuzkoan for People with Intellectual Disabilities Atzegi. “If I need help, I ask,” says Bergara. At first, for example, I confess that I was doing bad shopping, that I was not looking at the price of the products and that things were falling without too much judgment, but that I learned.
"If I need help, I ask. At first, for example, I was doing bad shopping, not looking at prices, but I've learned."
Another housing model beyond the supervised floors
“People are very surprised that people with intellectual disabilities live on their own in one floor. "But are you alone?" I'm usually asked around without a monitor, no one going at night?" says Atzegi's worker, Martin Zabala. The prejudices we had in relation to studies and work - the person with disabilities cannot study, cannot work - nowadays are linked to housing, and therefore it is important to visualize this reality. In addition, self-residence is an important step on the road to independent living. “Combining autonomy and dependency, in some cases another housing model is viable, beyond the supervised floors,” says Zabala.
Bergara explains how it unfolds in daily life: living with his roommate, the work he does in Gureak, the time he takes to walk for leisure time… and that often goes home to a friend who lives only on weekends to sleep, also within the program of Atzegi.
"People are profoundly surprised that people with intellectual disabilities live on their own on a floor."
The dream of creating our vital project
“We want to assert the right to live independently and à la carte. Yes, living alone is a challenge, but the challenge is usually for all people, with their good and bad things. All young people have the dream of creating our life project, people with disabilities as well, guaranteeing everyone the help they need.”
In Gipuzkoa, Atzegi has 57 people living independently in this program. And in order to continue to deepen this path, in October, Independent Life Training Workshops will be launched, aimed at people with intellectual disabilities and with a desire or curiosity to live independently in the future.