SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 5th June (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, emphasized today during his visit to the facilities of the Sonsoles Soriano Foundation that the inclusion of individuals with disabilities necessitates accompanying them in their life journey to ensure that “they have the ability to make their own choices”.
He stated, “It is imperative that we promote a shift in perspective in caring for individuals with disabilities and ensure that the care provided respects the will and rights of the individuals within this community in their daily lives, for which the work carried out by organisations like this foundation is crucial.”
During the visit, accompanied by the Minister of Social Welfare, Candelaria Delgado, Clavijo highlighted the pivotal role played by this foundation in providing support measures for the exercise of legal capacity of individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers, as well as within the network of public and private entities dedicated to serving individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Additionally, he commended the efforts of such organisations, which the Government supports through various funding channels, “as they cater to families, parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities who often live in uncertainty not knowing who will support their disabled family member when they are no longer able to do so,” and vice versa, as there are individuals with disabilities currently taking care of their elderly relatives.
“Today we have witnessed the transformation in the lives of individuals who have received support from the Sonsoles Soriano Foundation, as they have been empowered to advocate for their rights and stand up for themselves, granting them a level of independence that was previously unimaginable,” he added.
Candelaria Delgado also praised the work of organisations serving as advocates for individuals with disabilities in cases where the justice system cannot identify family members capable of assuming legal responsibility for their relatives, “thus the organisation steps in to care for individuals with intellectual disabilities in socially vulnerable situations, assisting them in their daily lives and, most importantly, ensuring a secure future for them.
ASSISTANCE FOR 52 INDIVIDUALS
On her part, the President of the Sonsoles Soriano Foundation, Georgette Bugnion Vuichard, reiterated that their mission is “to provide the necessary support for individuals with intellectual disabilities across all aspects of their lives, respecting their rights, will, and preferences, in line with the regulations set forth in the UN International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.
She explained that, at present, the Foundation is supporting 52 individuals with disabilities in exercising their legal capacity, alongside offering guidance to over 400 families throughout 2023.
During the visit to the foundation’s premises, the political leaders had the opportunity to interact with individuals with disabilities benefiting from this program to understand the spokesperson program, its goals and main objectives, and to learn firsthand about their experiences at the foundation.
The foundations supporting the exercise of legal capacity, a private non-profit venture, and members of Liber and Plena Inclusion Canarias offer a vital social service comprising aiding individuals of legal age in exercising their legal capacity under fair conditions, with the establishment of a supportive measure, whether judicial or voluntary.
