The operation of the Iasonio Centre on a 24-hour basis is a necessity, Speaker of Parliament Anita Demetriou said on Monday, noting that where there is vision and will, a goal can become a reality.
In a statement following her visit to the Adult Centre for People with Special Needs "Iasonio Colours of Life" in Larnaca, Mrs Demetriou expressed "great honour for the visit because I remember how an initiative, a vision and a thought was transformed into action and today this particular structure exists in the city. It was a lack that existed in Larnaca for a center for people with disabilities over 21 years old."
She added that "today in Iasonio there are many services that support people with disabilities, something that they and their families need so much" and referred to the private initiative supported by the state saying that "it comes to fill a gap that exists". "These people need a place where they can get the support they need," she said."
The least we can do, the Speaker continued, "is to be here, to try to use the occasion of the holidays to bring these children many messages and joy. I am happy to be here and to see that Iasonio is moving forward even more and evolving and we have even more things to do."
Asked whether as Speaker of the House she would take the initiative to promote the goal of Iasonio to provide 24-hour care for the adults in its care, Mrs. Demetriou replied that "our role is supportive, not executive. However, there and where we can we will push to see how we can help because it is a necessity now that the Center operates on a 24-hour basis for both the individuals themselves and their families."
We will look at the issue, Anita Demetriou continued, adding that "as much as we can we will strengthen this effort, since it is a gap that exists and we will have to see how we strengthen it. Where there is vision and will, a goal can become reality."
For her part, Chrystalla Daktyliadou, President of the Board of Directors of the Iasoneion Centre expressed particular satisfaction with the President's visit and noted that "my friend Anita was by my side from the beginning when I started this effort as a parent and she was one of the first to come to the Centre before the renovation of the space even started and she believed in me and my colleagues."
For her part, Chrystalla Daktyliadou, President of the Board of Directors of the Iasoneion Centre, expressed particular satisfaction with the President's visit and noted that "my friend Anita was by my side from the beginning when I started this effort as a parent and she was one of the first to come to the Centre before the renovation of the space even started and she believed in me and my colleagues. Today, this vision that began in 2012 has taken shape with the help of friends, colleagues and Board members."[/p]In response to a question, Ms. Daktyliadou replied that "the need to create such a space was too great and there was a gap when children at the age of 21 were leaving the special schools that existed in the city. I personally saw the problem since no Centre was accepting my son Jason because of the many problems he had, so I started the procedures to create this Centre."
She also noted that today she feels "justified and satisfied" both for her own efforts and those of other people who helped, so that the Jason Centre could be created and operate, which "today accommodates 8 people who face many problems".
Moreover, Aristoula Alexandrou, Administrative Officer of the Centre said that "the Centre was created out of the great need to accommodate adults, over 21 years old, with special needs, who were serious cases and could not be accommodated in other similar structures. This need prompted a number of people, led by parents of adults with special needs, to work hard to get the Centre up and running by 2018 and currently accommodating 8 people, the oldest being aged 32."
In response to a question, she said that "the State supports the Centre with about 50% of the operating costs. The Centre is a day care centre, operating from 7 am to 5 pm and providing the children with speech therapy, physiotherapy, special gymnastics and music therapy, and there are other programmes run by the Centre's attendants including entertainment inside and outside the Centre, feeding, training in various social skills and others".
He also mentioned that "the Centre, which is leased by the state, operates almost all year round and there is a need for a 24-hour structure. One of the Board's objectives is to move as quickly as possible to achieve this goal, so as to solve the problem created by the time the children leave the Centre."
Source: CNA
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