Peer Counseling in Upper-Austria Drawing and Copyright by David
Werner
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History 2008: Peer Counseling was formalized under the Upper
Austrian Equal Oppurtunities Act. (17) 2008:The Empowerment-Center
(EMC) as a center for Peer Counseling and education was founded in
Linz by the Independent Living Initiative Upper-Austria (SLI O).
The EMC is financed by the local government. 2009: The EMC submits
a concept for disability-specific Peer Counseling qualification
courses at the local government together with FAB Organos as
responsible training organization.
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History 2009: Jurists of the local government in Upper Austria
create an amendment of the Social Professions Act introducing Peer
Counseling as a social profession based on the concept for the Peer
Counseling qualification courses and achieved the formalization in
September. 2009: In November start of a Peer Counseling
qualification course for people with psychiatric experiences and
start of a Peer Counseling qualification course for people with
physical disabilities in the Empowerment-Center with FAB Organos as
responsible training organization.
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History 2011: In June start of the first Peer Counseling
qualification course for people with intellectual disabilities. For
this course the whole content was translated in easy-to-read
language by an organization called KI-I. KI-I is a network of
competence and information technology based in the technical
university in Linz, to promote the integration of people with
disability. http://www.ki-i.athttp://www.ki-i.at 2013: Start of the
second Peer Counseling qualification course for people with
psychiatric experiences. All courses have been financed by the
local government. Today 76 peer counselors offer Peer Counseling in
Upper Austria. Most of them are working for social organizations.
The working places of the Peer-Counselors are also financed by the
local government.
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Peer Counseling in the Upper Austrian Social Professions Act
The qualification process of Peer Counseling is comprised of at
least 240 teaching units and 80 hours of internship. The theoretic
qualification includes the following topics: 1. Fundamental
communication skills (16 units) 2. Fundamental counseling skills
(80 units) 3. Introduction in Peer Counseling (48 units) 4.
Information and reflection about living with disabilities (48
units) 5. Political Education and disability related laws (32
units) 6. Social Services in Upper Austria (16 units)
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Peer Counseling in the Upper Austrian Social Professions Act To
take part in a qualification process of Peer Counseling a minimum
age of 18 years is required as well as the experience of living
with some form of disability. Peer-Counselors have to attend at
least 16 units of special further qualification courses every two
years.
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Activity fields of Peer Counseling The experience of living
with some form of disability makes Peer Counseling very special and
differs from other methods of counseling.
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Activity fields of Peer Counseling Peer-Counselors offer other
people with disablities a trustful exchange of views and
experiences. Peer counselors help other people with disablilities
to increase their self-confidence and to reach their own targets.
Peer counselors provide the necessary support to help a person with
disability to solve problems and to find the right solutions on her
or his own. Peer-counselors provide guidance and advice to other
people with disability thus enhancing their life-quality.
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Activity fields of Peer Counseling Peer-counselors also provide
guidance and advice to other people with disability when help is
needed in official affairs, e.g. to get a service according to the
Upper Austrian Equal Opportunities Act. Peer-counselors provide
guidance and advice to other people with disability when they are
discrimated because of their disability, e.g. Peer Counselors can
accompany people with disabilities to conciliatory proceedings
according to the Austrian Federal Disability Discrimination
act.
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Successful Issues New jobs for people with disabilities were
established by the Peer Counseling qualification courses which are
financed by the local government. Peer Counseling shows that
disability is no longer considered as a deficit but as a competence
to be helpful for other people with disabilities. Peer Counseling
is a useful instrument to empower people with disabilities for an
independent living. Peer Counseling in Upper Austria is legally
recognized as a social profession that needs comprehensive
education. This is unique worldwide.
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Contact For further information please contact Mag. Wolfgang
Glaser, Manager of the Empowerment-Center E-mail:
[email protected]@sli-emc.at Telephone:
++43-732-890046