Association/ Union
Acronym
Elpida
Founded in
1978
Address
N. Stefanidi (not numbered), PO box 48, zip-code 57013 Oraiokastro Thessalonikis
espoir@elpida-autism.gr , monadaelpida@gmail.com
Phone number
+30 2310697614, +30 2310694186
+30 6994777677
Webpage
Organization's page in other social networks
www.instagram.com/monadaelpida
Description of the organization
"It was in Thessaloniki where, almost 40 years ago, parents of autistic children founded, for the first time in Greece, a Unit for Autistic Children named ELPIDA», which in our days is known as «Unit for Autistic people ELPIDA» It constitutes the only organised initiative dealing with autistic individuals throughout Greece.
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has also attempted to boost the educational activity of the Unit, focused on EARLY INTERVENTION and AUTONOMOUS LIVING projects, by offering two additional buildings. The actions taken alongside with the School of Parents «AUTISM-ELPIDA» give hope for a quality of life for both people with autism and their families.
The Unit is a Private Entity and is partially subsidized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. It is administrated by a Board composed by parents and is located in Oreokastro, a suburb 15 minutes from downtown Thessaloniki. Since 1980, the Unit operates in 6 individual and identical buildings through a concession between the Board and the Ministry of Labour that is being renewed every ten years.
The Unit has a capacity of 50 trainees aged between 5 to 50 years old, who are transported by 2 private coaches. "
In order to achieve the goals of treatment, education, social integration and semi-autonomous living of autistic people, the "Elpida" Unit provides the highest possible quality of services, applies the most modern methods of education, based on the TEACCH method and the application of modern psycho-pedagogical tests (PEP), equips and continuously improves its facilities and employs highly qualified administrative and specialized scientific staff including psychologists, special educators, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychologists and other professionals. As part of the pre-vocational training for adults, there are workshops for ceramics, greenhouse, home economics, wax, handicrafts and secretarial support.
Actions that the organisation has organised or in which it has actively participated
ELPIDA was a member of the European Association AUTISME-EUROPE and was linked with other organisations and Universities in Europe. ELPIDA, in cooperation with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, participated in many National and European Projects regarding trainers’ training, autonomous living and trainees’ preparation for subsequent work placement. It is a centre suitable for the training of scientists interested in relative cognitive areas (educators, psychologists, nursing staff, physical education teachers). Furthermore, the Unit in cooperation with the Department of Medicine of Aristotle University, the Laboratory of hearing, speech and language, in the ORL clinic of AHEPA Hospital, has taken part in the SOCRATES project. The scientific staff of the Unit is specially and specifically trained and numbers various specialties. These are child psychiatrist, psychologists, teachers, speech therapist, work therapist, agriculturalists, ceramists and teachers of physical education, music therapist, and also administrative and assistant personnel.
Video link from actions of the organization
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owYZkW7AG0Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIb5BIEkQEg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdbajUmdRXc
Volunteering opportunities provided by the organization.
As many specialisations can provide assistance to our beneficiaries. Registration period, September to December.
English 
Greek