It is a non profit Association of Parents and Friends of Exceptional Children,
dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and education of persons with mental
retardation and to the development of knowledge in the same field, including
teachers education at university level.
It was founded on August 1st, 1963, by a group of parents and professionals of different disciplines, who were preoccupied because neither the State nor society had generated at that time, creative and scientific forms to manage the problem of mental retardation.
Students at the Ceramics Workshop
The Board of Directors is the governing body of AVEPANE´s policies. Its supreme authority is represented by the Executive Vice-presidency, who with the support of advisory boards: Scientific Committee, Public and Interinstitutional Relations, Administration and the Educational Units, work for the fulfillment of the objectives for which the Association was created.
The most significant factor is to turn such an effort into a permanent action and for this it is necessary to count with a leader to manage the Association, to motivate his followers and to have a clear vision of the future. AVEPANE is born with that leader whose personality, willingness of service, persistence in the action that has fully transcended any barrier that threatens the crystallization of her work. Said leader is Mrs. Reyna de Benmergui, principal founder of AVEPANE, who has managed the Association since its origin on a full-time and ad-honorem basis.