The Chilean Foundation for Disability (FCHD) is a non-profit organization with over 18 years of experience, operating throughout Chile. Since our inception, we have been committed to creating and implementing development programs in Inclusive Education, Training, Gender Equity and Women's Empowerment, Labor Inclusion, Research, Transition to Independent Living, and Caregiving Communities.

Our social area, "Caregiving Communities," is dedicated to promoting initiatives for the well-being of people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers, fostering a vision of public, collective care based on interdependence and autonomy.

At ISBA 2023, we launched our book "People Who Care: The Challenge of Caring for a Person with Disabilities," with the goal of highlighting the phenomenon of caregiving and the crucial role that caregivers play in achieving the autonomy and independence of people with disabilities.

To learn more visit our website.

Matías Poblete, Founding President of the Chilean Foundation for Disability

• Special Education Teacher, Central University of Chile
• Master's in Government and Public Affairs, Central University of Chile
• Doctoral Candidate in Disability and Person-Centered Care, Favaloro University, Argentina

I am a blind man who does not see disability as a limitation but as an opportunity to face life with creativity, optimism, and passion. Over the years, I have developed extensive competencies in leadership, innovation, and people management. I have a vast experience in training and leading multidisciplinary teams. My work focuses on creating initiatives related to Human Rights, inclusive education, social and labor inclusion, caregiving, accessibility, and universal design. I serve as an advisor, columnist, and opinion critic on issues related to the social inclusion of people with disabilities.

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Potrafię Pomóc Foundation – established in 2008 by parents providing care for children with developmental defects. Our aim is to support the whole family: children, young adults, adults with disabilities, in particular with rare or very rare diseases. The foundation is responsible for running Therapy and Assessment Center of Rare Diseases, Respite Appartement, Accessibility Institute, Education and Rehabilitation Center for Unique Children, Kindergarten and the first in Poland School of Childbirth for persons with disabilities. In 2021 we have supported over 10 000 people with disabilities. To learn more visit our website:

Potrafię Pomóc Foundation
Bartłomiej Skrzyński Therapy and Assessment Center of Rare Diseases

Adam Komar
President Potrafię Pomóc Foundation

Adam Komar is the president and founder of the Wrocław Fundacja „Potrafię Pomóc” („I Can Help” Foundation). The organization supports children and adults with disabilities, with rare or very rare diseases, and their families. The birth of Adam’s son, a person with disability, provided an impetus to establish the Foundation. The organization was founded in cooperation with other parents.

On the initiative of the Foundation in Wrocław operates:

• the Centrum Diagnostyczno-Terapeutyczne Chorób Rzadkich im. Bartłomieja Skrzyńskiego (Bartłomiej Skrzyński Therapy and Assessment Center of Rare Diseases), that is unique in the country;
• the Wrocławska Szkoła Rodzenia dla Osób z Niepełnosprawnością (Wrocław School of Childbirth for Persons with Disabilities);
• the Ośrodek Rehabilitacyjno-Edukacyjny and the Terapeutyczny Punkt Przedszkolny dla Wyjątkowych Dzieci (Education and Rehabilitation Center and Kindergarten for Unique Children);
• the Mieszkanie Opieki Wytchnieniowej (Respite Appartement);
• the Instytut Dostępności (Accessibility Institute).

The foundation and foundation’s president have received numerous awards for social activity. The Foundation has been honoured, among others, with three „Lodołamacz” („Icebreaker”) statuettes. Adam Komar received the Nagroda Rzecznika Praw Obywatelskich im. M. Lisa (Maciej Lis Award of Ombudsman), Wrocław Award 2022. He has been also granted by the title „Lodołamacz Specjalny” („Special Icebreaker”). 

The Nice Stories Foundation (Fundacja Ładne Historie) operates within the Lower Silesia region in Poland. Our activities are related to culture, education, sociocultural animation and accessibility.  We implement original programmes for children and young people (Lato na podwórku/Summer in the Yard in Świdnica and the Children and Youth Development and Activity Centre in Wrocław), we organize creative workshops and inspiring meetings for adults and senior citizens (Plac Grunwaldzki OD NOWA in Wrocław). An important area of our work is ensuring accessibility of culture and tourism to people with disabilities and their families (Łączą nas góry/Mountains connect us) - we design programmes in the area of respite care and social tourism that include not only people with disabilities, but also their families. We foster interaction, creativity and encourage creative action, teach mutual respect and empathy, mobilise local communities and create an ever-growing group of people who wish to do something for others.

The common denominator of all these activities are local communities - hence the wide range of public benefit objectives listed in our statutes, which enable us to respond to such communities’ diverse and changing needs. We are involved in intercultural activities, which are now essential in our work for local communities. We are committed to the concept of good neighbourly relations, serving as a glue and a frame of reference for mutual relationships - we put this idea in action by implementing courtyard activities in Świdnica or running the Local Activity Centre in the Grunwaldzki Square in Wrocław.

The Nice Stories Foundation was established in 2016. Our strategic goal is i.e., to create a shift in the way people think about education and social inclusion, as well as to develop new implementation tools. Our activities are not limited to one-off events, but involve a sustained, long-term collaboration aimed at building a network of partnerships at the regional and national levels. We have experience in the implementation of public tasks within the field of cultural education and social revitalisation, including those financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the National Cultural Centre, the National Freedom Institute - Centre for Civil Society Development, the PZU Foundation, local government funds, Norwegian Funds and EEA funds. Members of our team graduated from the PEF Fundraising School run by the Academy of Civic Organisations Foundation, both times with honours, and participated in the PROMENGO management training course.

We find good collaboration with partners - NGOs, institutions and businesses to be the key to effective action. We have initiated and led local partnership in the Grunwaldzki Square housing estate, which currently brings together 17 different entities, including the Estate Council, the Municipal Social Welface Centre, the Library, the Pasaż Grunwaldzki shopping mall, two social cooperatives, schools and NGOs. We are an active member of the Network of Local Activity Centres (SCAL Wrocław), also co-ordinating the network activities. We are signatories to the nationwide Partnership for Accessibility, a commitment we take very seriously, ensuring accessibility at the level of: programming, information, participation. The standards that the new Accessibility Act has just made mandatory this year, have been applied by us for a long time.

We are the initiators of the nationwide Active Respite Network, which brings together institutions and entities involved in respite tourism and other relevant activities. Currently, the network brings together 40 entities from across Poland.

Maria Zięba
President of the Board of the Nice Stories Foundation

Sociocultural animator, NGO advisor, project coordinator, social activist, researcher, fundraiser. Author of the Art of Fundraising publication series. Member of the Social Council for Culture appointed by the Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship; scholarship holder with the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (2016 and 2021); since 2016 - President of the Nice Stories Foundation; graduated from cycle 2 of the Fundraising School curriculum organized by the Academy of Civic Organisations Foundation.