The second phase of the project “Expanding Support Opportunities for Parents of Children Aged 0 –14 with Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities”, funded by the Balkan Fund – Ireland, has begun.
In September 2026, BAPID began work on continuing and building on the project activities. The aim of the project is to provide specialised support to parents and families who provide daily care for children with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. The activities focus on creating a space for sharing experiences, providing emotional support, developing skills to cope with stress, and strengthening parents’ capacity.
At the beginning of the project, BAPID developed and distributed a survey to identify the needs of parents from organisations that are members of its network, as well as families of children aged 0–14 with severe and profound intellectual disabilities.
More than 30 parents expressed their interest in taking part in the project activities. Some had participated in the first phase of the project, while others were joining for the first time. An individual conversation was held with each parent to agree on a convenient time for participation. Individual supervision sessions were arranged, and groups were formed for group supervision sessions. These sessions are delivered online by a clinical psychologist and a clinical social worker over a period of up to nine months, taking into account parents’ availability and assessing the impact of the sessions.
Through their participation in individual and group supervision sessions, the project aims to help parents of children with severe and profound intellectual disabilities gain greater confidence and a greater sense of calm in their daily lives. The interventions are intended to support parents in developing skills that promote their emotional well-being and social inclusion.
One of the key activities in the second phase of the project is to encourage the development of parent communities and self-help groups. These will be organised in partnership with the organisations and services within the BAPID network, with the active involvement of parents themselves.
At the end of November, a meeting is planned for parents who are “experts by experience” from the BAPID network, with the participation of a psychologist and a clinical social worker. The meeting will focus on sharing experiences and building a supportive parent community.
The project also includes online “open hours”, which parents will be able to join without prior registration. The aim is to provide timely support, consultation and guidance, as well as an opportunity for parents to share any questions or difficulties they may be experiencing.
