Puzzle is a social cooperative enterprise founded in 2015. We work tirelessly for the social inclusion and support of people with disabilities, focusing on improving quality of life through education, counselling and innovative programmes.

Address: 8 Naiadonon Street, Athens 11634
Telephone: 211 0128379

Grief management

A guide for people with intellectual disabilities

The authors of this handbook want to acknowledge the contribution of many people with disabilities who over the years have shared with them personal experiences and feelings, thus forming the basis of this handbook. Without their own personal stories and their indirect involvement, it would not have been possible to produce this
of the manual.

The need for the guide and all the material arose from common experiences of grief and loss shared by the authors with people with disabilities with whom they have worked for almost twenty years.

Finally, the authors of the guide would like to thank the Ioannis Latsis Foundation and its executives for the adoption and support of their idea.

This handbook is designed for people with intellectual disabilities and their carers to help them cope with bereavement and loss. It has been structured using information from available research and clinical publications as well as experience based on working with people with disabilities.

Our material is not absolute or complete. Care has been taken to ensure that the information contained herein is relevant to many people with disabilities and different communication needs, however, decisions about
seeking any treatment services remain the responsibility of the individual and/or their carer.

The information provided here is in no way intended to be a substitute for mental health professionals and therapists.

The authors are in no way responsible for any consequences arising from the incorrect use of the manual or from any failure to take actions that should have been taken to ensure the health and safety of the final users.
beneficiaries.

The creation of the guide is part of our project which is part of the third cycle of the
"Support Points" programme for the period 2018/2019. More specifically, it concerns an action implemented in the framework of
of the "Points of Support" programme, co-funded by the Ioannis S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, the TIMA Public Benefit Foundation and the
Foundation, the Hellenic Hope Charity, the Captain Vassilis and Carmen Konstantopoulou Foundation, the A.G. Leventis Foundation and the Bodossaki Foundation.

Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to:

  • Provide people with intellectual disabilities and their supporters (family,
    carers, professionals etc.) an overview of the grieving and bereavement process.
  • To highlight the range and magnitude of the needs of people with disabilities who may be in the grieving process.
  • To provide effective strategies to support people with disabilities in managing grief and loss.

The use of images within the guide was made to help people with reading difficulties to understand.

It is possible that for some professionals or even some people the type of images (symbolic sketches) may not be understood. In this case it might be better to replace them with real images from the person's life. The authors of the guide are available to provide the guide as 'open text' to facilitate these
cases. Do not hesitate to contact us.

Why this guide?

It is the right of all people to have access to appropriate support, where and when requested, to help them cope with grief and loss. Disabled people may require additional support to meet their specific needs. The provision of appropriate support should take into account social factors, cognitive factors and
also communication factors that may have an impact on the way a person with a disability experiences and expresses grief
his.

The guide was written with the needs of people with disabilities in mind and includes information and strategies that are easy to understand for many people.

Who is this guide for?

The guide talks about bereavement and loss and provides advice and information on ways of coping with them. It is written in an easy-to-read way to appeal to people with intellectual disabilities who have reading difficulties. It contains illustrations and text that aim to provide the appropriate information in an appropriate way.

What is mourning?

Τι είναι το πένθος;

Grief is what we feel after a great loss or death. Every person feels differently after the death of someone close to them. Some people feel a lot of pain and sadness. Others get over it more quickly. There is no right and wrong.

What is a big loss?

Grief is what we feel after a great loss or death. Every person feels differently after the death of someone close to them. Some people feel a lot of pain and sadness. Others get over it more quickly. There is no right and wrong.

Someone is dying:

Κάποιος πεθαίνει

A little animal dies:

Ένα ζωάκι πεθαίνει

One of our relationships is ending:

Μια σχέση μας, τελειώνει

Something we wanted very much is not coming true:

Κάτι που θέλαμε πολύ δεν γίνεται πραγματικότητα

For some reason we are no longer able to do things we used to do:

Για κάποιο λόγο δεν είμαστε πια ικανοί να κάνουμε πράγματα που κάναμε συνήθως