|
Care and Rehabilitation of Children with Disability
Children
With Disabilities in Altai
In
spring 2005 HealthProm has started a new project aiming to
help children with disabilities and their families in Altai
Republic, Russia. The project is funded by the European Commission
and aims to encourage the social inclusion, development and,
where necessary, rehabilitation of disabled children in Altai
Republic. This will be achieved through creating a sustainable
model of community based care and support for disabled children
and their families.
Altai
Republic lies in a remote region of Siberia and is one of
the poorest areas in the Russian Federation. Eighty percent
of the population live in rural areas, many with poor access
to services because of the mountainous landscape. There are
approximately 20,000 disabled people in the Republic; of whom
3,000 are children-an increase of more than 400% since 1997.
The state and republican programs simply cannot cope.
Our
Russian partner NGO, Revival, identified that disabled children
and their parents, particularly in more remote locations,
are the most disadvantaged. These children often do not have
the opportunity to fulfil their potential in education and
personal development.
In
partnership with the state and voluntary agencies, HealthProm
and Revival will establish two day-care centres for disabled
children and their families. One of the pilot schemes will
be opened in Gorno-Altaisk, its capital and the other in Ongudai,
a village in the rural regions of Altai. In these centres
children with disability can socialise and learn through play
and creative activities, such as art and craft. Their families
will also be able to attend support groups and receive specialist
advice free of charge.
This
project also aims to provide training for social workers,
health care professionals and local authorities on disability
issues and early
|
