On September 27, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Opportunities for the widespread adoption of independent living arrangements for people with disabilities are being discussed today by social protection workers of the Vitebsk region with their Swedish counterparts at an international seminar in Vitebsk, reports a BELTA correspondent. The two-day conference "Independent Living for Young People with Disabilities" is being held within the framework of the Belarusian-Swedish project "Social Integration of Children and Young People with Disabilities in the Vitebsk Region," which has been implemented between the Vitebsk region and the Swedish city of Halmstad since 2005. Hans-Jörgen Valhed, Chairman of the Social Protection Committee of the Halmstad Municipality, emphasized: "During this time, great work has been done in the Vitebsk region to create a barrier-free environment and break the isolation of people with disabilities." As visible achievements, he noted the broad awareness of social protection specialists on this issue, the opening of day care centers for people with disabilities at each of the 27 territorial social service centers for the population of the region, the organization of various clubs and hobby groups within them, participation in which allows people with disabilities to develop and feel like equal members of society. Another important aspect, in his opinion, was the opening by the Bogushevsk boarding school in the Senno district of two houses where graduates with psychophysical development peculiarities of this social institution were given the opportunity to live independently. The implementation of this project also received Swedish support. It is also important to note the support and interest in this issue from local authorities, Hans-Jörgen Valhed stressed, adding that the project will be continued in the following years, as it has received high praise for its effectiveness from sponsors. Today, during the seminar, social protection workers of the Vitebsk region and representatives of Halmstad will visit the Bogushevsk boarding school, where they will directly communicate with the participants of the independent living project and exchange experiences on organizing various forms of independent living for people with disabilities. On September 28, their work will continue at the Vitebsk Regional Scientific and Methodological Center for Folk Art, where participants will learn about the organization of various activities with people with disabilities conducted at the day care centers. -0-