In the framework of the SMiLe project, a seminar titled “Training Primary Healthcare Professionals in Disability Issues” was held on Monday, June 3, 2019, at the School of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh).
The seminar was attended by around 30 people, most of them doctors and nurses from health centers and local health units in Macedonia and Thrace (including the areas of Thessaloniki, Michaniona, Paranesti Drama, Echinos etc).
The first part of the seminar was devoted to familiarizing participants with the basic theoretical principles of disability, with presentations by Assistant Professor of Primary Health Care and Medical Education of AUTh’s Department of Medicine, Manolis Smyrnakis, Dr. Panagiotis Tsalis, civil engineer specialized on accessibility and Georgia Fyka, a social worker with specialization in Disability Studies and Health Services’ Management.
In the second part of the seminar, the participants were divided into three working groups, attending as many clinical scenarios. The first group, coordinated by Paschalina Kalle, a mobility instructor for persons with visual impairments, and psychotherapist and psychiatrist Evangelos Zalios, focused on visual disability. The second, co-ordinated by sign interpreter Spyros Kouzelis, focused on hearing disability. And the third, coordinated by Georgia Fyka, focused on physical disability.
In the third and final part of the seminar, an evaluation by the participants took place. The general feeling was that it was an extremely useful process that strengthened the empathy of health professionals, clarified critical conditions, and dissolved stereotypical approaches. The interdisciplinary approach, clarity and applicability of the communication skills taught by the participants, especially in the second part received acclaim. Criticism was limited to the time available, which was considered not sufficient, thus leading to a request for the organization of additional seminars in the near future.
