Since the beginning of the year, 24 new specialised workplaces for people with disabilities have been created in the Vitebsk region, as reported by Vera Astapenko, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.
She noted that in accordance with the state programme "Social Protection" for 2021-2025, territorial centres for social services for the population (TSSOP) of the Vitebsk region provide services directly at the place of residence of elderly citizens, people with disabilities, and families with minor children. To reach those in need and provide them with assistance, 5 branches, 247 social service points, 19 household teams, and 23 mobile teams operate in the region. Considering that many settlements in the region are remote and sparsely populated, social service departments and branches continue to open. Since the beginning of the year, twelve such facilities have become operational, including nine stationary service points in the Tolochin, Dokshytsy, Glubokoye, and Orsha districts, and three districts of the regional centre.
"By the end of this year, it is planned to open two stationary social service points at the Dubrovno and Ushachi TSSOPs and a day care department at the Postavy TSSOP," specified Vera Astapenko. "Thanks to this work, rural residents can receive consultations and social services at their place of residence, apply for financial assistance, one-off home-based social services, and more."
In the Braslav district, a social enterprise has been operating since June this year, creating conditions for the training and professional adaptation of people with disabilities. The initiative, with a total cost of €29,000, is being implemented under the project "Support for Local Economic Development in the Republic of Belarus," financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Economy of Belarus.
"We are talking about the most optimal types of activities for people with disabilities, as tasks can vary in complexity," said the Deputy Chairperson of the committee. "For example, the machines are simple and convenient to operate, and operations are mastered gradually. The results of work are quickly visible on the printing equipment, and the online platform offers opportunities to learn computer literacy."
The category of rehabilitable citizens at the Vitebsk residential care home has been expanded. Next year, in addition to people with disabilities affecting the musculoskeletal system and vision, individuals with hearing impairments will also receive assistance here. A rehabilitation and habilitation department for children with disabilities will open at the Bogushevsk residential care home for children with disabilities with psychophysical developmental disorders, and at the Babinichsk psychoneurological residential care home for the elderly and disabled, a rehabilitation and habilitation department for citizens over 18 years of age with psychophysical developmental disorders will be established.
The Deputy Chairperson of the committee noted that 25 families have utilized the "social respite" service provided by the Bogushevsk residential care home for children with psychophysical developmental disorders this year. More than 10 individuals residing in residential care homes have had their legal capacity restored.
Work has also been carried out to create new jobs for the employment of people with disabilities. Agreements have been concluded between the committee and organizations for the creation of 24 such workplaces. All of them are ready for use, and 13 citizens with disabilities have been employed there through the employment service; the rest are planned to be employed by the end of the year. In total, from January to November, the labor, employment, and social protection bodies of the Vitebsk region assisted 249 individuals with disabilities in finding permanent employment.
Adaptation to work activities has been organized for 47 unemployed individuals with a disability status. Among them are seamstresses, computer graphics and copying equipment operators, manufacturers of artistic wooden products, club leaders, and representatives of other professions and specializations.
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by
