Founded in 1972, as a registered charity, Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door, has charted a successful and honorable course in the service of people with cerebral palsy in Greece.

Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door never isolated itself or the people in its care and has always tried to overcome barriers, to build bridges and to fight for the inclusion of the people with disability in every walk of life.

As pioneers in the field of cerebral palsy, Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door aims to:

  • offer systematic services to people with cerebral palsy and support to their families
  • integrate people with cerebral palsy into society
  • train specialized staff
  • enlighten the public
  • encourage scientific research, especially in the field of prevention
  • promote the necessary legislative measures for people with disability.

Τhe main characteristics of Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door are:

  • Our belief in the unique value and limitless potential of every person with cerebral palsy
  • Our pioneering spirit that opens up new pathways and widens the horizons for people with cerebral palsy
  • Our belief that education, culture and art are defining factors in the life of every human being
  • Our determination to provide a high standard of service on all fronts and in all circumstances
  • Our determination never to give up as long as there is one child, teenager or adult in need of help
  • Our hope for a brave new world that we can all share as equals

GOVERNING BOARD

The 9-member Governing Board is the senior executive body of Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door.

  • Daphne Economou, Honorary President
  • Ioanna Koutrouvi, President
  • Maria Michailidou, Vice President
  • Athanasios Zambaras, Treasurer
  • Ekaterini Xyla, Assoc. Treasurer
  • Myrto Doumani, General Secretary
  • Maria-Rozita Badogiannaki, Assoc. General Secretary
  • Amalia Alevizou, Member
  • Maria Marinou, Member
  • Gerasimos Zervos, Member

FOREWORD BY THE HONORARY PRESIDENT   

All those who have supported Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door for almost five decades, have lived through years full of effort, progress and hope for people with disability in our country.

Yet, in spite of the fact that CPG has managed to accomplish a significant part of its initial goals, chronic problems have not yet been solved, new needs appear daily, and the progress of science presents us with new solutions, but with new challenges too.

Still, at a particularly difficult time, CPG’s resilience and determination remain unbroken. We continue to offer high quality services to children and adults with cerebral palsy, while at the same time keeping our door open, building bridges of communication with society and always being ready to try out new ideas and to take innovative new steps.

We believe in the unique value and endless possibilities of each and every person with disability and we believe that the greatest gratitude is owed to the children and adults of the Open Door Centre, who with their courage, strength of will and achievements, justify the existence of our Society every day. We receive much more from them than we offer and we are constantly enriched by our contact with them.

But nothing is easy, and despite all the generous acts of support, for which we are deeply grateful, with 240 children and 120 staff, we cannot retain the same rhythm of service without urgent, steady and considerable support from the State and the public. This is the truth, and to you, our friends and supporters, we will always tell the truth.

So, although the road still seems long, because such a mission never ends, we proceed with optimism and invite those who have known or will come to know our work, to continue by our side, on this difficult, but inspiring journey.

Daphne Economou

OPEN DOOR CENTRE

Cerebral Palsy Greece’s Open Door Centre of Education and Rehabilitation was inaugurated by the President of the Greek Republic, Constantinos Stephanopoulos on December 12th, 2001. It constitutes a hospitable Greek home, a well-run, well-equipped, operational unit that provides services to over 240 infants, children, young people and adults on a daily basis.

The aim of the Open Door Centre is to offer the full range of services that a person with cerebral palsy is entitled to, so that with full educational, therapeutic and support services, children with cerebral palsy can grow to adulthood, with equality of opportunity to flourish and develop as individuals and to use their experiences, skills, knowledge and talents to the full.