Centre of Assistive Technology and Access

(CATA, Department of Special Education, Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education, Babes-Bolyai University) – The main objective of CATA is to promote the assistive and access technology among the visually impaired students, at institutional and individual levels:

http://centre.ubbcluj.ro/cata/

Angel Association Dog (Satu-Mare) 

provides information regarding the training and acquisition of guide dogs (seeing dogs) for visually impaired persons (president: Szabo Zoltan).

http://www.angeldog.ro/ro/despreproiect.html

Dog Assist Association (Cluj-Napoca)

collaborator in the Keep Calm with Dogs program, together with volunteers of the Association and students of BBU and USAMV CN

http://www.dogassist.ro

 Autism Transilvania Association (Cluj-Napoca)

collaborator in several research programs (e.g.  http://humananimalforautism.wordpress.com/), as well as in educational and social activities related to the therapy and social inclusion of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their caregivers.

http://www.autismtransilvania.ro

Association of Reciprocal Aid Cluj-Napoca (A.D.A.M.)

 the Association targets the development of a complementary system for the socio-medical services that are currently existing at local level, in the direction of the improvement of human Quality of Life

http://adam-cluj.fdaam.ro/

Distonia Association, Cluj-Napoca

The aim of the Association is to support the persons in needs that are diagnosed with rare diseases, by offering them support and assistance

http://www.distonie.ro

Definitions of disability

According to the definition given by the World Health Organization, the area of disability includes impairments in the organism’s functions or structures, limitations of activity and restrictions of participation or involvement in ordinary life situations. Thus, a disability reflects the interaction between an individual and the society in which he/ she lives.

http://www.who.int/topics/disabilities/en/

A person’s disability can be visible or invisible, permanent or temporary, physical or psychological and it refers to any condition that has a major impact on daily functioning and activities. Some examples of disabilities are:

• Motor disabilities;
• Chronic illnesses, physical disabilities: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes;
• Mental health problems: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, chronic depression, anxiety;
• Sensory disabilities: visual, auditory;
• Learning disabilities: reading difficulties (dyslexia), writing difficulties (dysgraphia), mathematical learning difficulties (dyscalculia);
• Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without Hyperactivity;
• Autism Spectrum Disorders;
• Disabilities that are consequences of trauma, accidents, injuries, with temporary or permanent sequelae.

Resources:

• UN Enable http://www.un.org/disabilities/
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/convention/convoptprot-e.pdf
• World Report on Disability http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/report/en/