J. Mäder^1
1Social Leagues, Swiss League against Rheumatism, Dietlikon, Switzerland

Abstract: The following explanation is based on the “Into work” personal development training by Arthritis Care England, where I completed the “training for trainers” in 1997.
The experience to be a person with rheumatism within the society can be difficult and depressing. Accessibility to work, education and leisure activities often depend on the environment. Physical and social barriers make people feel wrong about their own. On a long term it creates a negative self image and people don’t feel able anymore to manage their completely life themselves.
The personal development training for people with Rheumatism, was set up as a “patient for patient” project that means, that every trainer is also a person with rheumatism. Training for trainers was offered to patients, who have already completed a personal development course.
A trainer with own experiences about living with rheumatism is able to deeply understand the patients situation, as well as hopes and fears participants may have. By using examples about the own experiences of a trainer, trainees can identify themselves with the subjects much easier. To see the changes in a trainers life encourages people to start their own self management and to improve their life-quality persistently.
The training course for people with rheumatism is based on the social model of disability. It empowers people to improve their self-confidence and to gain a different self-image. The course starts with a discovery of the current state and ends with setting realizable goals, connected to a self created action plan.