Supporting Young People With Disabilities in Hungary

Author: Dimitar Keranov, Transatlantic Foundation

Implemented by the Wildflower Foundation in Hungary from March to December 2024, the Raising Awareness Among Young People With Disabilities and Their Families project responded to the problem of limited access to practical information and support available to young people with severe disabilities and their families. Through workshops and individual consultations, it aimed to help participants better understand their rights, available opportunities, and administrative options, while encouraging them to become more confident in representing themselves and promoting their own interests.

The project centered on two main activities. The first was a series of awareness-raising workshops held in locations including Kaposvár, Nagyatád, Szekszárd, and Pécs. These provided practical information to young people with disabilities, their families, educators, guardians, parents, and care professionals. The second consisted of individual counseling sessions with mental-health and rehabilitation experts, which supported participants in navigating administrative procedures and seeking assistance in their respective cases.

The project reached more people than expected and supported participants in cases where practical guidance was needed. The workshops also helped build contacts with local partners and created opportunities for future cooperation.

The project showed that many people in the target group face not only practical obstacles but also a serious lack of information about benefits, rights, and available forms of assistance. By providing clear guidance and expert support, the workshops helped participants ask questions, seek help, and take steps to stand up for their interests. One participant initiated an application related to eligibility for Child Care Allowance while attending medical school.

The project also had an impact beyond the direct participants. After one workshop for professionals at a local school, information from the session was shared at a parents’ meeting, which showed that the knowledge provided through the project was passed on further. In another case, the Wildflower Foundation helped a young person living in a small village arrange care support that was essential for her family’s livelihood. These examples point to the practical impact of the project on people’s everyday life.

The project’s broad reach, the number of individual cases supported, and the continued requests for help after the end of the grant period point to a successful initiative. It showed that targeted information, expert counseling, and cooperation with local institutions can help young people with severe disabilities and their families become more aware of their opportunities and more confident in advocating for themselves.

The project Raising Awareness Among Young People With Disabilities and Their Families, supported by the Engaging Central Europe program of the Transatlantic Foundation, was implemented under the PROTEUS program and co-funded by the European Union.

The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Transatlantic Foundation (TF) or the European Union (EU). Neither the EU nor TF can be held responsible for them.