ACT Psychology students visit ELEPAP
International Day of People with Disability (December 3rd) is a United Nations-sanctioned day that aims to promote understanding of the issues experienced by people with disabilities. In that context, on Friday, December 6th, Dr. Aimiliza Stefanidou, Coordinator of BSc Psychology program, and Ms. Nelly Florentin, ACT Counselor, accompanied 9 psychology students on a field visit to ELEPAP at its premises in Thermi. ELEPAP, a Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled with six branches throughout Greece, offers a series of integrated intervention programs for infants, pre-school and school-aged children, cooperates with Public Special Schools and at the same time provides supports to their families.
Ms, Gianna Pantazi, Social Worker, welcomed ACT students and briefly talked about the major therapeutic services at ELEPAP along with the important role of Psychologists and Social Workers in the disability field. Students also had the opportunity to interact with children from the Early Educational and Therapeutical program (Unit of Special Preschool Education addressed to children from 18 months to 6 years old with motor, sensory, and developmental disorders) and participate in teacher-led educational activities by Special Education teachers, Mr. Giorgos Karavokyris and Ms. Christina Karanikou. An interactive Q&A period followed where the issues of children’s developmental difficulties and special needs, the objectives of pedagogical interventions and the challenges and rewards of working in this field were discussed. It was an interesting learning experience that provided students with valuable insights into disability and motivated them to explore volunteering and internship opportunities at ELEPAP.
