Marcin Gruca

Available: Monday, all day the rest of the week from 18:00, Saturday from 16:00, Sunday all day (Online & In Person – Dublin Capel St.)

Rate: €30-€50

Working as a Healthcare Assistant for people with disabilities has opened my eyes to the many challenges they face daily. I help them develop and discover talents that bring new meaning to their lives. As an attentive listener, I focus on their needs and goals, avoiding judgment and ensuring that prejudices do not affect our relationship. This approach allows for smooth and uninterrupted collaboration, free from external disruptions.

My experience also includes participation in the Contact Support Person program and working with individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities. Collaborating with nonbinary individuals and having long-term contact with LGBT+ groups, with whom I’ve been involved for over 30 years—dating back to a time in the 1990s when these communities were often marginalized—has shown me that diversity does not mean difference in a negative sense, but rather is a source of rich experiences and perspectives.

Communication is a key element in building relationships based on empathy and understanding. Acceptance of what is happening around us often requires effort, but it is essential for creating an open and supportive environment. While we cannot entirely rid ourselves of labels and stereotypes, the fact that someone is ‘different’ is an inherent part of social reality. However, it is important to learn how to minimize the negative impact of these stereotypes so that they do not lead to dysfunction but rather to growth and acceptance.