Programs
Activities
Who can join us
Children (over 10 years old), adolescents as well as adults (up to 55 years old) with mental and physical disabilities can enroll in Atlantida. The participation of people with disabilities in the center's program is FREE for the beneficiaries of the act "Reconciliation of family and professional life" at the request of the parent or guardian to the sponsor which takes place approximately every year in the month of June. If the beneficiary meets the social and economic criteria, he receives a check (voucher) that he redeems.
Trust
Inspiration
Respect
Music-kinetics Education (Morning lesson)
The class starts with warming up our bodies (body awareness). Then, we continue with some music games aiming at the perception of space, balance games but also crafts, listening to music to improve the fine motor skills, games with a ball aiming at the development of various skills, creativity/imagination and to improve the audiovisual perception.
Gardening (Morning lesson)
The senses focus on natural rhythms, the individual calms down and learns to work smoothly with the rest of the group to achieve a specific goal. More specifically, gardening helps the beneficiaries to improve their gross motor skills (hoeing, pushing, watering, carrying), their fine motor skills (putting gloves, using a pruner, cutting, weeding), their orientation in space (moving consciously in space, calculating the distances needed for planting but also watering), the sense of time (seasonality of plants, frequency of watering), the visual and auditory memory (naming and identification of plants) and logical-mathematical thinking (understanding sizes, classification, sequence of procedures, act-result connection).
Choir class (Morning lesson)
The class starts with warming up the voice and the body with motor exercises. Then, we continue with learning different songs (verse by verse), the rhythm, and various musical instruments.
Art class (Morning lesson)
One of the many artistic activities is creating with clay. Various works and ideas imprinted on paper, can take shape and dimension within the space, and become tangible creations and utilitarian objects. Depending on the functionality of each one of us, clay is a way of expression and relief. Starting from and destined for fun in combination with creation and imagination, we create various objects.
Creative game (Morning lesson)
The beneficiaries enter the area as a group, where a specific routine schedule is followed. Initially, we spend a little time discussing our news and continue with various games that use gross-fine mobility, observability, and visual-motor coordination. The games are selected according to the theme of each season, the current situation, or the interests of the beneficiaries. Our goal is to have fun and broaden our intellectual horizons.
Aerobics (Morning lesson)
Aerobics as well as gymnastics is a way to develop our motor skills. The course aims at improving aerobic ability and at the same time neuromuscular coordination through repetitive movements. Another important part that we are working on is the coexistence of each individual with the rest of the team and the recognition of the rhythm. These goals are achieved in parallel through entertainment and music.
Cooking (Morning lesson)
The aim is to develop visual-motor coordination and fine motor skills, which are necessary for handling the tools and the household appliances needed to carry out the daily activities of the beneficiaries in the context of their autonomous living. Also, by dividing the beneficiaries into sub-groups the active participation and action of all individuals are ensured and the self-organization, interaction, cooperation, and mutual assistance they need for the completion of each activity is promoted.
Autonomy (Morning lesson)
Every day in Atlantis' space we carry out activities that aim to develop the skills of the beneficiaries, which are useful for their autonomy, self-service, and their life in general. Such activities include eating (preparation of breakfast meals, beverages, and infusions, serving of meals, washing of used utensils), personal hygiene (teeth washing, hands washing after using the toilet), housework (sweeping, moping of the room, surfaces’ cleaning, washing machines use, laundry hanging, bed-making).
Painting (Morning lesson)
It aims at the cognitional and sensory stimulation of the beneficiaries and then at the development of their artistic expression and imagination through their contact with various and different materials. The mental relaxation and the sense of acceptance are realized through the music that we listen to in the room, which includes sounds of nature and harmonious melodies of relaxation and concentration. In this way, the beneficiaries start to feel familiar with the environment they are in and everyone at a different time starts to express their willingness to participate in the artistic activity presented by the person in charge and the assistants who coordinate the class. In a second stage, an attempt is made to bring the beneficiaries into contact with various materials that will enhance their sensory characteristics, process them and then use them appropriately for the creation of a project. Here the goal is the expression through creation, the development of imagination, and faith in the uniqueness of each expression. The usual procedure is to give a finished work as a model and then ask them to create their own, having the ability to incorporate into it any personal touch of their own. The materials we use are markers, watercolors, tempera, colored pencils, A4 paper, crepe paper, thick cardboard, newspapers, scissors, glue, fabrics, popsicle sticks, and natural materials.
Social Skills (Morning lesson)
Emphasis is placed on the fostering of cognitive abilities and the familiarization of the beneficiaries with behaviors useful in their everyday life, which concern their home life and their sociality (e.g. basic arithmetic, monetary transactions, ways of social behavior, etc.). Another issue on which we focus is emotional management to improve both their emotional wellbeing and their interpersonal relationships (e.g. emotional expression, anger management, admitting a mistake, etc.). All of the above aim to facilitate their social integration and absorption and thus improve their quality of life.
Gymnastics (Afternoon lesson)
The beneficiaries can exercise the main muscle groups in their legs, hands, and torso by using ordinary fitness equipment. They also improve their motor and social skills through various activities and games.
Autonomy (Afternoon lesson)
The aim is to develop the necessary skills for independent living. The beneficiaries learn how to manage situations that they experience in their daily life (e.g. dishwashing) and acquire skills that aim at their full self-service. Moreover, through these skills, they understand the concepts of responsibility for their actions and cooperation, as they all work collectively. They learn to prepare various snacks (e.g. toast), cut fruit, and make juice. They also learn the "table rule": creation, enjoyment, tidying, washing, and cleaning. Other skills that they acquire are towel cleaning and folding, toilet hygiene, and cooking.
Pedagogical Game (Afternoon lesson)
The aim is to enhance the personal skills of each beneficiary, such as their fine and gross motor skills, visual and auditory perception, short-term memory, imitation, coordination, and concentration, as well as those skills required to participate in the team, such as collaboration, waiting for their turn, teamwork and respect for the rest of the team members. The activities of the class take the form of games and they are accompanied by music when we believe that it could be helpful. We usually start with an introductory game, continue with a group activity, where the beneficiaries interact and are activated in the room, and finish with a seated activity in a circle. Before the end of the course, there is a ten-minute relaxation exercise to discharge. Our main concern is for the beneficiaries to spend quality time with us and be happy.
Painting (Afternoon lesson)
It aims at the cognitional and sensory stimulation of the beneficiaries and then at the development of their artistic expression and imagination through their contact with various and different materials. The mental relaxation and the sense of acceptance are realized through the music that we listen to in the room, which includes sounds of nature and harmonious melodies of relaxation and concentration. In this way, the beneficiaries start to feel familiar with the environment they are in and everyone at a different time starts to express their willingness to participate in the artistic activity presented by the person in charge and the assistants who coordinate the class. In a second stage, an attempt is made to bring the beneficiaries into contact with various materials that will enhance their sensory characteristics, process them and then use them appropriately for the creation of a project. Here the goal is the expression through creation, the development of imagination, and faith in the uniqueness of each expression. The usual procedure is to give a finished work as a model and then ask them to create their own, having the ability to incorporate into it any personal touch of their own. The materials we use are markers, watercolors, tempera, colored pencils, A4 paper, crepe paper, thick cardboard, newspapers, scissors, glue, fabrics, popsicle sticks, and natural materials.
Music-kinetics Education (Afternoon lesson)
It combines opportunities for movement, socialization, fun, and relaxation. The activities include music and games of movement and dance, aiming at body awareness, the development of gross and fine motor skills, and orientation in space. The course is divided into four activities where the requirements are classified. Also, the use of musical instruments and visual stimuli is very important for the course. The program is tailored according to the capabilities and needs of each group of beneficiaries. In some groups, there are additional goals such as the development of phonological awareness, short-term memory, and imagination.