Moscow’s adaptation and social integration programmes

The Moscow government continuously takes special efforts to resolve the problems that people with disabilities face. The underlying task is to provide them with the opportunities to exercise their rights and observe their interests, equal to those of other people.

Over 1.2 million people with disabilities are registered in Moscow, including 26,100 disabled children. The past 15 years have seen significant changes not only in the living conditions for such people, but also in the minds of the public. The social adaptation of disabled people and their integration into society have become notions of everyday life after the law on the social protection of disabled people was adopted in 1985. Programmes run by the Moscow City Government were of singular importance in extending rehabilitation help to Muscovites.

To name just one of them, "Social integration of handicapped people and other people with disabilities in Moscow for 2007 — 2009" embraces efforts aimed at health and social rehabilitation, creating a comfortable and friendly environment for people with limited mobility, providing public access to information, establishing a social partnership and improving human resources policies. In addition, the programme seeks to make cultural and sports events and tourism accessible for disabled individuals, so that these people will not feel isolated from the public.

All the public organizations for disabled people contributed to the drafting of the programme, and the authorities took their proposals into consideration. The rehabilitation system involves 1,421 organizations providing healthcare, education and social services to handicapped children and adults. On the whole, the current rehabilitation system for people with disabilities is well positioned to meet their needs.

Moscow boasts comprehensive rehabilitation centres catering not only to physical treatment, but also to social adaptation, combined with advice from neurosurgeons, general practitioners, neurologists, urologists, and psychologists. In addition, a comprehensive rehabilitation system for oncology patients — and children above all — has been launched. The rehabilitation centre is intended not merely as a prevention clinic, but ideally as a crisis centre to which people can turn when they are in need of immediate professional help from instructors, psychologists or doctors.

Among the most important tasks to be accomplished in 2009 are the plans to make medical rehabilitation services available to all those in need, create jobs for the disabled, and implement educational programmes. In addition, by the end of 2009, at least 1,800 flats will be granted to the handicapped, sidewalks and road crossings will be adapted for people with limited mobility, and public transport vehicles will also be fitted out with ramps and display boards.

The most challenging task is adapting the whole urban environment to the needs of people with disabilities. Public transport vehicles have only been reequipped on 19 of Moscow`s transport routes, where buses with installed wheelchair ramps and special areas arranged for wheelchair users are employed. In two of Moscow`s districts minibus taxies known as ’Comfortable Transport" circulate.

The city is gradually reshaping its sports centres and swimming pools. During street and sports events, special places are allotted to allow wheelchair users, and people with seeing or hearing difficulties to take an active part as viewers.

Moscow is determined to make all disabled people feel welcome in the city.

Rehabilitation and social integration for disabled children is a primary focus of the programme. Until recently, special needs children were educated in special boarding schools. Now, the plans are to grant them an opportunity to go to general secondary schools. 520 out of the selected 809 educational institutions have been equipped to allow children with disabilities to study along with other children.

The plans also seek to give a boost to the development of distance learning for children with disabilities. Moscow now boasts a unique school providing home schooling opportunities for those handicapped children who cannot attend special educational institutions. Budget allocations have been made to procure computers and other equipment for 1,514 children. Teachers are implementing a special programme to work with the children.

After rehabilitation, people of working age will be assisted in finding a job. Out of 1.2 million people with disabilities living in Moscow, 300,000 are already working or likely to be employed. Job quotas are an important tool in helping disabled people facing difficulties to find a job. The Moscow authorities have passed a law imposing a certain job quota for disabled people on enterprises with over 100 staff members on the payroll. However significant the progress already made may be, the Moscow government believes they are still just at the beginning, having accomplished no more than 20% of their planned effort.