UNIQ Peers Present Their Ideas
The importance that a Nueva evaluator has for the UNIQ peers was comprehensively described by the latter at the final results presentation of the Nueva project in Berlin.
To earn their own money has top priority, as it contributes significantly to a self-determined life. Moreover, they want to bring about changes and to get an overview of the offers for people with disabilities.
Apart from vocational possibilities, they also care about the development of their own personality.
Very important: Most can be learned by “looking over someone’s shoulder”, that is, whenever evaluators from Austria showed them how they do it. This is what the UNIQ peers could already experience at the test project in Berlin.
Quality Circle bursting at the seams!
The hosts of the 2nd quality circle held on the 30th April at Reha Wohnen und Freizeit e.v. had not reckoned on such a huge number of interested guests. Extra chairs were brought so that everyone could be fitted into the seminar room. Reinald Purmann of Berliner Paritäter gave a warm welcome to guests from abroad and also representatives from Berlin Social Policy, the Senate Department and nonprofit agencies and the UNIQ peers reported on their experiences during the test phase. 
“We were given a friendly reception and it was very interesting for me to discover how I behave in this kind of situation”, said Harald Siebert.
“We changed some of the terms used in the questions in the Nueva questionnaire so that they were more easily understandable in our region. Many interviewees however did not know whether they have a care contract or an individual assistance plan with their agency”, stated Enrico Schaffrath.
The UNIQ peers noticed that it was sometimes difficult for them to explain to the residents what their intention was and to make themselves understood. In these situations they found it particularly helpful when carers supported them at the interview for the residents.
Gengoux Gomez of Inclusion Europe gave a brief overview of the situation in other European countries, and that in Spain and Finland they are currently also working on the development of a user-oriented evaluation model. Liza Kelly from Ireland complained that in this respect her country is only just getting started and said she would like to organise a quality circle in Ireland in the near future, in order to publicise Nueva. Wolfgang Obwexer from Italy and his organisation have been Nueva partners for some time already and is currently training 10 Nueva evaluators in South Tyrol.
Berlin is also looking to offer an inhouse Nueva training programme soon. Reinald Purman announced that his partner organisations were working towards starting a Nueva training programme in January 2010.
Enrico Schaffrath is already sure: “I definitely want to do this training and become a Nueva evaluator.”
Test in Berlin
April 2009
Sabine Schweng and Wilhelm Weber from Austria have arrived in Berlin and are now preparing the test evaluations with the Berlin self-advocates. They are being given support by Hermann Brunnhofer and Martin Konrad of atempo.
Aktion Weitblick GmbH and Reha Wohnen und Freizeit e.V. have made themselves available as test partners. They have also provided self-advocates for cooperation in the UNIQ project. The initiative for the Berlin test evaluations came from the subject specialists for assistance for people with disabilities in the Paritätischen Wohlfahrtsverband, Mr. Reinald Purmann.
Before the interviews with the users of these agencies begin, the Nueva questionnaire will be presented in the first quality circle in Berlin. All interested participants in social policy, administration, agencies, experts and users in Berlin are invited to this quality circle. The participants of the quality circle should get the opportunity to find out and discuss the issues in detail and to observe how the project develops. The results of the test evaluations are to be presented in a second quality circle on the 30th April 2009 and further possible steps for Berlin discussed.
The Senate Department for Integration, Labour and Social Issues of the State of Berlin represented by Government Director Uwe Lehmann is very interested in taking part in the project and will be actively participating in the discussion.
Throughout the test project the self-advocates are to be accompanied by Ms Janna Harms of the Catholic University of Applied Social Sciences under the expert management of Prof. Monika Seifert.
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Representatives of Inclusion Ireland, Inclusion Europe and Lebenshilfe Südtirol in Italy will be observing the test evaluations in Berlin from the 28th to the 30th of April to gain leads on how to transfer Nueva to their own countries.
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For more information please contact Mr Reinald Purmann of Paritätischen Wohlfahrtsverband Landesverband Berlin:purmann@paritaet-berlin.de
UNIQ Peers on a study trip to Graz
March 2009
From 22nd to 26th March, Harald Siebert, Thomas Plischkowsky, Nicole Thomas and Enrico Schaffrath were on a study trip at Nueva in Graz. Together with colleagues from Norway and the Czech Republic they discussed the Nueva questionnaire with Austrian Nueva evaluators.
The main focus of the week was the 20 criteria for the “self-determination” quality dimension. This was because it is these 20 criteria that form the core of the test interview in Berlin. The Berlin experts are now working on adapting the language and concepts to the specific situation in Berlin. Enrico Schaffrath:
"Four days was too short, it could have been longer.”
The Nueva team were great, you really felt understood, because there are other people there with learning difficulties.
I think it is good that something like this can spread to different countries and that Nueva is not just in Austria, but all over Europe – it is like a little stone that has set a rock in motion.” 
Nicole Thomas:
"It was the kind of atmosphere where you felt confident enough to tell people personal things and to ask questions.”
Harald Siebert:
"I saw that I am good at doing presentations, also in a way that everyone understands. Making contact with other people taught me a lot, although I was really pushed to my limits.”