Different. Just like you: A psychosocial approach promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities

‘Different. Just like you: A psychosocial approach promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities’, has two key aims:

• To create awareness of the importance of psychosocial support and inclusion in promoting the well-being of persons with disabilities
• To provide guidance about psychosocial support and inclusion, along with practical resources for inclusive psychosocial activities for all kinds of settings

The handbook describes best practice in psychosocial support and inclusion, and features a wide range of activities – mainly adapted sports and other physical activities – that give persons with disabilities the opportunity to release their full potential and engage actively in society. The handbook is based on a survey of best practice and programming in a number of selected organisations in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa. The organisations selected work primarily with children and youth with disabilities. The children and youth often face difficulties in accessing activities, education, employment and human rights in their communities because of the disabling effects of impairment.

However, participating in sports and other activities appears to be a strategy that brings many benefits. They include positive experiences of having fun; of having a chance to be part of local society; and of demonstrating capabilities, regardless of perceived limitations. Many of the programmes also include advocacy for the positive inclusion of persons with disabilities, human rights training, sports therapy and services offering assistive devices.