Since our last publication in October 2013, 4 organisations were certified with EQUASS Excellence: Benediktushof gGmbH (Germany), APPACDM de Viseu (Portugal), CERCIGUI (Portugal), APPACDM de Soure (Portugal)
Benediktushof gGmbH (Germany)
Benediktushof gGmbH, a German provider of services for people with disabilities based in Reken, North Rhine-Westphalia, has received its second EQUASS Excellence certification in November 2013, after its first certification in 2010. Founded in 1924, Benediktushof provides vocational training, sheltered work and residential home care services for a total of nearly 600 children and adults with disabilities, and aims to provide them with an extensive participation in society.
APPACDM de Viseu (Portugal)
Based in Viseu, in the central region of Portugal, APPACDM de Viseu received its EQUASS Excellence certification in November 2013. Established in 1976, Viseu’s Portuguese association of parents and friends of people with intellectual disabilities provides education, rehabilitation, occupational and social-professional integration services, as well as residential support. It currently serves 185 persons in the Dão-Lafões subregion.
CERCIGUI (Portugal)
The Guimarães municipality’s education and rehabilitation cooperative to people with disabilities and impairments was founded in 1977 and provides various social integration responses to 225 persons from the Minho province, northwest Portugal. Their 94 staff members and Director Jacinta van der Kellen received the EQUASS Excellence award in December of 2013.
APPACDM de Soure (Portugal)
The Portuguese association of parents and friends of people with intellectual disabilities based in Soure, in the central region of Portugal, received its EQUASS Excellence award in January of 2014. Created in 1991, the association provides vocational training, occupational activities and home support services to 98 persons, and aims to defend and promote the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities in the fields of education, work, social integration and health.