Motivation Peer Training
Peer training turns experience into empowerment. It allows people with disabilities to learn from one another, share solutions, and realise they are not alone in their journey.
Motivation Peer Training (MPT) involves Mobility disabilities training others with a similar disability, in skills and knowledge that will enable them to carry out everyday activities and achieve an improved quality of life. Such activities involve maintaining health, achieving independence through personal mobility (i.e. being able to move around the home and community by overcoming obstacles) and building confidence and a sense of value amongst the community.
MPT provides participants with the knowledge and confidence to seek further information and skills, which can be tailored to their individual requirements. Ideally, Peer Training should be supported by the local DPO or NGO for wider access to specific information and networking opportunities. This support would also allow for contact and networking opportunities with disability and mainstream organisations – these can help with, for example, seeking employment, HIV prevention and treatment information and family support.
Purpose of the Training
To provide participants with the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to achieve a basic level of independence and greater quality of life to ensure the participants:
- Feel more comfortable with their disability
- Demonstrate an understanding of their basic human rights
- Demonstrate an understanding of the health issues related to their disability
- Demonstrate basic mobility skills
- Have a boost in their self-esteem
- Feel motivated towards greater independence and participation in society.
Target Audience
The course is primarily aimed at the following disability groups:
- Spinal cord injury
- Post-polio
- Amputees
- Spina
- Cerebral Palsy
The above disability types have similar needs in terms of mobility, rights and confidence building. Those with a SCI and spina bifida have additional health needs. This depends on the context of the training, but generally no more than 12 participants (preferably six males and six female) to two Peer Trainers (one male and one female) is recommended.
The following age ranges are recommended for the training: 17 – 65 years (adult’s Peer Training) or 6-16 years (children’s Peer Training). The main requirement should be that they are able to actively participate in Peer Training either independently or with an assistant.
Scope
It covers three areas:
- Disability awareness (e.g. rights and advocacy)
- Health (e.g. bladder, bowel and skin care)
- Mobility (e.g. wheelchair skills and transfers).