Children with special needs face various challenges. In order to reach their full potential, they need additional support and adjustments in the educational, social and living environment. The companionship program, implemented by the Society for the Culture of Inclusion, represents an important and flexible form of assistance that contributes to supporting children in everyday challenges, learning new skills, strengthening their abilities and social inclusion of the entire family. The role of a companion is multifaceted and includes promoting social interaction, direct support for the child, creating a safe environment, collaborating with parents and achieving development goals. Due to my assumptions that the role of companions significantly positively contributes to the quality of life of children with special needs in an original working project of support and assistance to children with special needs, I decided to investigate the role of companions in an original working project of support and assistance to children with special needs.
The research is qualitative and empirical. To obtain information, I conducted six interviews with the actors of the Society for the Culture of Inclusion, related to cooperation with children with special needs, during my student work as a social worker from 05. 10. 2024 to 1.3. 2025 in Slovenia. The non-random and opportunistic sample is represented by three social workers, one social worker leader and three parents of a child with special needs. I investigated the role of social workers in the original work project of support and assistance, how social workers contribute to improving the social, emotional and developmental skills of children with special needs, what are the key factors for the success of social workers in supporting children with special needs, what challenges social workers most often encounter when working with children with special needs and how they solve them, and how families of children with special needs perceive the role of social workers in their lives. The results showed that the companionship program represents an important and flexible form of assistance that significantly contributes to supporting children in everyday challenges, learning new skills, strengthening their abilities, and the social inclusion of the entire family.The results showed that the companionship program represents an important and flexible form of assistance that significantly contributes to supporting children in everyday challenges, learning new skills, strengthening their abilities and social inclusion of the entire family. The positive effects are reflected in improved family dynamics, where parents emphasize that they have more time for themselves and their partner, greater emotional well-being of children, i.e. that the child feels better, is happier, personal development, independence and the creation of a safe and stimulating environment for cooperation with a child with special needs. Interviewees included in the study observed that children express greater joy and feel safer within the companionship. Companions use individualized approaches in their work, focused on developing independence, adapting strategies and communication to the child's needs. Despite the positive aspects, companions face challenges, among which the need for additional education, coordination of approaches, overload due to organizational obstacles and difficulties in cooperating with several professionals stand out. They solve these challenges with patience, gradual introduction of changes, and active communication and collaboration.
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