Ionut is a 24-year-old man with above average intelligence, diagnosed with progressive muscular dystrophy and severe locomotor deficit. The young man comes from a Roma family from Ceamurlia de Jos, a small village in Tulcea County. He supported himself through the first years of high school. He graduated brilliantly from the Faculty of Economics. Now, he is a final year master’s student, in the same field. Ionut is interested in information technology, so he is constantly self-improving his knowledge in this domain. He provides software services for phones and laptops, and creates websites, in order to support himself. He would like to take programming courses.
The young man accidentally found out about the services offered by HAO, from a parent of one of our beneficiaries. In January 2021, when he turned to our colleagues from the Services Centre for Supported Employmentfrom Constanța, Ionut was in a very difficult situation. He did not have a job and money to buy the needed drugs to treat his illness. Additionally, he was in danger of being evicted from the rented house where he was living with his mother and his brother. At that time, the young man was in a degrading emotional state, with a low level of self-confidence, in his own strength and in the people around him.
Alina, Supported Employment specialist at HAO, was impressed by the young man’s life story, but especially by his desire to overcome his condition. She went through the vocational profiling stage with Ionuţ, and after that, they made an action plan together that aimed for two important aspects, namely: psychological counselling and identifying a job suitable for the education and professional experience of Ionut.
Our colleague recommended a series of jobs to Ionut, discussing with the young man about the advantages and disadvantages of each one. Also, she suggested he consider starting an independent activity, becoming self-employed. Shortly afterwards, Ionuţ was invited to an interview by Anca Moise, administrator of M&A Fast Tax SRL, a companyspecialized in accounting, audit, payroll, and consulting. Ionuţ impressed the entrepreneur, so she proposed him to take care of some of her clients, based on a service contract. As a result, Ionut immediately started the procedures for setting up his own company. After two months of activity, the young man earned four times more than the amount discussed during the interview. Moreover, he has started collaborating with another company.
According to Alina, major intervention in Ionuţ’s working relations with the clients and with the representative of the company he works with was not necessary, but our specialist noticed the need for emotional and psychological support, which she granted every time the young man needed it.
In April, Ionuţ, alongside other young adults with disabilities enrolled in the LEAD project, participated in an experience exchange organised by HAO Romania. On this occasion, Ionut told his story, in order to encourage others young adults not to give up their ideals and work to reach them.
Up to the end of the LEAD project, 450 young adults with disabilities (180 from Romania, 150 from Lithuania and 120 from Portugal) will benefit from equal opportunities in social and professional integration. Supported Employment services will be provided by Health Action Overseas Romania, Valakupiai Rehabilitation Center and Consultis – Consultoria Empresarial, Unipessoal Lda for 165 young adults with disabilities (60 from Romania, 60 from Lithuania and 45 from Portugal).
