The Petagma Association was founded by the families of people with intellectual disabilities and always recognizes the pivotal role of the family in the individual’s life.
The family dynamic changes when there is a disability. Supporting a family member with a disability can be a great source of resources and resilience for both parents and siblings, but also a source of daily challenges. These challenges can be both practical and emotional, and they vary based on the needs and age of the person with the disability, as well as the characteristics and needs of the family itself.
The Association supports families by providing:
- family counseling
- support and preparation of the family for integration into Supported Living Flats
- sibling support group
- informing and educating families on issues related to disability
Supporting families of people with Intellectual Disability is crucial for the emotional well-being of the individual and enhancing their social inclusion. To PETAGMA works to ensure that families are well prepared and supported along the way.
👫 Petagma Bros – A Siblings’ Group for People with Disabilities
Petagma Bros is a community group created by and for the siblings of people with intellectual disabilities who live in the Association’s Supported Living Homes. Its name carries a double meaning: “Bros,” referring to brothers and sisters, and the Greek word embros (“forward”), symbolizing a step toward the future.
The group began in 2020 and grew organically over time through shared activities with our siblings: Sunday outings and picnics, gatherings around the table, music, and conversations that often lasted late into the evening. Through these meetings, we gradually opened up to one another. We began talking about things that had been on our minds for years but had always been squeezed into hurried conversations during family celebrations: our concerns, our parents’ fears as well as our own, and our relationships with our siblings.
The group has been supported by two psychologists who embraced it as a new community. Betty Mantadaki has been involved since the group’s conception and formation, while Loukia Chaidemenaki, the Association’s Scientific Manage/Psychologist, serves as the vital link connecting siblings with disabilities, their parents, and the association.
💬 A space for mutual support and community – where every brother and sister can share experiences that only someone who has grown up alongside a person with a disability can truly understand.
🤝 A network for action – bringing people together through shared initiatives and new ideas.
🌱 A bridge to the future – as our parents grow older, we as siblings gradually take on a more active role in the lives of our brothers and sisters and in the work of the Association.
