The 57th session of the Verkhnedvinsk District Council of Deputies of the 28th convocation was held at the State Social Service Institution "Lunacharsky Psychoneurological Boarding House for the Elderly and Disabled", where the issue of the implementation of the subprogramme "Accessible Environment for the Lives of Disabled Persons and Physically Weakened Persons of the State Programme "Social Protection" for 2021-2025" in 2023 was considered.
The session was attended by Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, Boris Efremov, Chairman of the Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, and Vasily Shilov, Chairman of the Verkhnedvinsk District Executive Committee.
The session was chaired by Irina Kozel, Chairperson of the Verkhnedvinsk District Council of Deputies.
The participants of the session familiarised themselves with the facilities of the Lunacharsky Boarding House, the living conditions, treatment and rehabilitation of people with disabilities. Olga Lyudskaya, the Director of the institution, spoke about the creation of an accessible therapeutic environment for 420 residents at the boarding house. This includes comfortable rooms, offices with various modern rehabilitation techniques, non-traditional wellness methods, specially equipped sports halls, recreation areas, and many other components for a comfortable stay. In essence, the boarding house is a comprehensive complex for life, feasible work, health improvement, realisation of creative potential, and useful recreation for people with social adaptation problems.
The Lunacharsky Residential Care Facility is one of the most important facilities in creating an accessible environment for people with disabilities and the physically weak. In general, diverse work is being carried out in this area within the district. Commenting on the progress of the programme's implementation, the Head of the Department for Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the District Executive Committee, Ilya Bolshoy, noted that there are 1346 people with disabilities living in Verkhnedvinsk district, including 59 wheelchair users, 73 visually impaired individuals, 5 hearing impaired individuals, and 63 children with disabilities under 18 years of age. The task of the state and society is to ensure their full access to transport, information and communication, medical care, education, and other facilities and services provided to the public. An Interdepartmental Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been established in the district, comprising representatives of public associations of people with disabilities in the district. The Council identifies facilities for creating an accessible environment, and also carries out monitoring and control over their implementation. Such facilities include voice information systems with remote control, tactile paving and guidance strips for premises, information signs for offices duplicated in Braille, floor plans for restrooms, call buttons for people with disabilities, ramps with handrails, pictograms, and many others.
The speaker spoke about the work being done to create an accessible environment in social institutions, enterprises, and organisations in the district. Examples include a disabled parking space at the bus station in Verkhnedvinsk, tactile paving and a playground with specialised equipment for children with disabilities in the town park, the creation of a barrier-free environment in the homes of people with disabilities, and the expansion of library collections with publications for blind and visually impaired users.
The experience of creating an accessible environment in their institutions was shared by Olga Lyudskaya, Director of the State Social Welfare Institution "Lunacharsky Psycho-Neurological Residential Care Facility for the Elderly and Disabled," Tatyana Nikiforova, Head of the Day Care Department for the Elderly and Disabled of the State Institution "Territorial Centre for Social Services of the Population of Verkhnedvinsk District," and Galina Pirog, Director of the State Educational Institution "Centre for Correction and Development Education and Rehabilitation of Verkhnedvinsk District."
Boris Efremov, Chairman of the Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, noted that the measures provided for by the programme to create an accessible environment in the district are being implemented. However, several more projects to create an accessible environment need to be completed by the end of the year, including at the Territorial Centre for Social Services (TSSON), the District Executive Committee, and the Central District Hospital.
Vasily Shilov, Chairman of the District Executive Committee, noted that over one million roubles have been allocated for the renovation of the polyclinic. This will allow for the implementation of the planned measures to create a barrier-free environment. He also emphasised that the issue of adapting people with disabilities into society has always received and will continue to receive special attention in the district.
Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies, thanked the parliamentary corps, the district leadership, and representatives of social protection bodies and institutions for their ongoing work and remarked on its importance for people in need of such assistance.
Vladimir Terentyev spoke about the implementation of the accessible environment creation programme in the Vitebsk region, which includes the construction of playgrounds for children with disabilities in districts, the provision of special bicycles and developmental playhouses for young children with developmental peculiarities, the procurement of wheelchairs for people with disabilities, and the installation of ramps and parking spaces, among other initiatives.
However, much remains to be done. Vladimir Vladimirovich advised accompanying a person with a disability on their journey from home to various essential facilities. It would immediately become clear how challenging the path, which is familiar to a healthy person, is for a person with a disability. Helping to overcome these barriers, integrating individuals into society, and creating conditions for a fulfilling life is a duty that demonstrates the maturity of our society and a genuine humane attitude towards people.
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by
