The Republic Center for Support of Persons with Intellectual Disability – PORAKA within the project “Strengthening the Capacity of the Local Organizations of PORAKA” prepared and published four manuals. The manuals arise from the subjects, which were included in the seminars conducted within the project in September 2003 – September 2004.

At the end of last year, three new publications were published by PORAKA.

The first publication presents the analysis of the survey, which PORAKA has conducted in 2005 and is referring to the realization of human rights for persons with intellectual disability and their families in the Republic of Macedonia. The analysis was prepared by the Program Manager of PORAKA, Vasilka Dimoska and is published by the title: “Conditions and Proposed Measures for Equalization of the Opportunities for Persons with Intellectual Disability in the Republic of Macedonia”. The analysis of the survey represents detail review of the current situation regarding the realization of human rights for persons with intellectual disability in the Republic of Macedonia. It is consisted of all negative and positive changes made in the legislation, the policy, and the way of realizing certain rights. All of these changes were compared to the situation in 2001. The publication consist measures in order to ensure equalization of opportunities for persons with intellectual disability.

The second publication, with title: “ Poverty and Intellectual Disability in the Republic of Macedonia ”, was also prepared by Vasilka Dimoska. This publication emphasizes the cause-effect relation between poverty and intellectual disability, which contributes for increased vulnerability and exclusion of persons with intellectual disability and their families from the mainstream of everyday life in society. The publication introduces the Conclusion for decreasing poverty and promotion of social inclusion for persons with intellectual disability, adopted on the National Conference organized by PORAKA on 06.12.2005.

The third publication “ From disability to ability – Paths for equal employment for persons with intellectual disability ” promotes the principles of the process for supported employment of persons with intellectual disability. Apart of the model for employment in “sheltered” associations in Macedonia, this employment model is directed towards effective employment in integrated work settings on the open labour market, and offers permanent support and adequate income for persons with disability.

The manual for strengthening the capacity of the local organizations of PORAKA is divided in two parts. These two manuals include the subjects for strategic management, lobbying and fund raising. Then, team working, communication skills and publicity and public relations. The processes of making decisions and problem solving, as well as managing conflicts are also described in the manuals. The following subjects are included as well: leadership and management, self-management and team management, and at the same time facing stress and time. As last but not least are the subjects for public speaking and training of trainers.

In the manual for media relations guidelines are given for establishing successful cooperation with the written and electronic media. Manual explain the way in which the media function and how to communicate successfully with them, presenting the most frequent tools used in communication with the media. At the end follow up procedures, if the materials sent to the media are received on time and how to stay in touch with the media.

The manual for administrative and office management provides practical advice and guidelines for proper management and administration. Examples given in the manuals are useful for everyday work i.e. registration of the acts and documents, the procedure with the acts that are created during the work of the organization, the way of the selection regarding the documents and using the stamps during the work. At the end of the manual examples are given for Plan of archive signs for categorization of the acts, List of documents that have permanent value and a List of documents with terms for their keeping.

The Manuals for NGO capacity building (I, II, III and IV part) are published within the project “Action and support of families with disabled children in R. Macedonia”. The British expert Annie Mubanga produced the Manuals. They are consisting the topics, which were subject of the training seminars for capacity building of the local organizations of PORAKA.

The “Manual for trainers” and “Training for member of the family with person with disability – education and social activities” were published within the project “Family support in prevention of institutionalization”.

The contents of the Manual for trainers represent the basic directions for work of the volunteers in the Day Centers of PORAKA, how to conduct the training of the persons with intellectual disability for gaining independent living skills. The Manual for training for member of the family with persons with intellectual disability – education and social activities is intended for family members for realization of the training within the home environment.

The Manuals for work with children with special needs (I and II part) were published within the project “Action and support of families with disabled children in R. Macedonia”. The Manuals where produced by British experts, that carried out the training of 20 parents-volunteers for work in the special groups in the regular kindergartens. These two Manuals are including the topics, which were subject of the training. They were distributed to the parents for work in family environment.

The Manual “Methodical guidelines for motor and sensor exercises for children with intellectual disability up to 12 months age” is produced and published in 1999, and is directed for training of the parents for work within the home. The motor and sensor exercises are directed to children up to 12 months old, when the need for early treatment for improvement of the overall condition of the children is emphasized.