RESEARCH OF NEEDS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

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RESEARCH OF NEEDS OF PERSONS

WITH DISABILITIES

Rustavi city, Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti Municipalities

Tbilisi

2016


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The research was done by non-governmental organization “Partnership for

Human Rights” within the EU and Open Society Georgia Foundation “Sup-

porting the right and opportunity of the persons with disabilities to partici-pate through the bodies of the local self-governments in Georgia”. The proj-

ect is implemented by non-governmental organizations: “Article 42 of the

Constitution”, “Partnership for Human Rights” and “Accessible Environment

for Everyone”.

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European

Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the au-

thor and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

The views, opinions and statements expressed by the authors and those pro-

viding comments are theirs only and do not necessarily reflect the position

of Open Society Georgia Foundation. Therefore, the Open Society Georgia

Foundation is not responsible for the content of the information material.

Author of the research: Nana Gochiashvili

Participants of the research preparation: Ana Arganasvhili,

Ana Abashidze

Translated by: Tengiz Nozadze

Project funded by the

European Union

Project funded by the Open Soci-

ety Georgian Foundation


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Table of Contents

Introduction.............................................................................................................................1

I. Basic finding.........................................................................................................................3

1. Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities.........................................................32. Rustavi city municipality...........................................................................................4

II. Thematic research needs of persons with disabilities living in Ozurgeti city and

Ozurgeti municipalities.......................................................................................................6

1. Availibility of physical environment.....................................................................6

2. Adapted Transport......................................................................................................8

3. Employment ..............................................................................................................10

4. Parking rules................................................................................................................115. Attitude of society towards persons with disabilities.................................11

5.1. Individual case.................................................................................................13

6. Availability of rehabilitation services.................................................................13

7. Involvement in community life...........................................................................14

8. Retraining courses for parents...............................................................................15

9. Level of awareness of the activities of self-government............................15

10. Programs of local self-government for persons with disabilities.........15III. Thematic research – needs of persons with disabilities living in Rustavi city

municipality...........................................................................................................................16

1. Availibility of physical environment.................................................................16

2. Adapted Transport.....................................................................................................18

3. Employment ..............................................................................................................19

4. The right to education............................................................................................20

5. Pre-school education...............................................................................................216. Cultural and sport activities..................................................................................22

7. Rehabilitation/Habilitation services...................................................................22

8. Space of day care center..........................................................................................23

9. The lack of vouchers of day care center...............................................................24

10. Family assistant/ Home care service..................................................................24

11. Attitude of society..................................................................................................25

12. Independent living................................................................................................2513. Accessibility of information................................................................................25

14. Statistics....................................................................................................................26


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IV. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................26

IV. Recommendations........................................................................................................28

1. 1 Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities..................................................28

1. 2 Ministry of Education and science of Georgia............................................29

1. 3 Ministry of Labor, Health and social Affairs of Georgia............................292. 1 Rustavi city municipality......................................................................................29

2. 2. Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.........................30

2. 3. Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia...........................................30


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Introduction

The research report reviews the needs of persons with disabilities living in

Rustavi city, Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities. The basic problems

that need the local self-governments to be involved and to put in action the

long-term result-oriented projects are described by the persons with disabili-ties, their parents and the organizations of the persons with disabilities in this

work. The respondents analyze barriers that prevent them from inclusion in

the activities of the bodies of self-governments and evaluate obstacles that

must be solved to support independence and ensure involvement in society

of the persons with disabilities.

The goals of the research is to describe the needs of persons with disabili-

ties in Rustavi city, Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities, that stipulatethe effectiveness of their inclusion in the decision-making processes of local

self-governments or represent an obstacle in the mentioned direction and to

determine the barriers that should be eliminated to support their indepen-

dence and ensure their involvement in self-government activities, to evalu-

ate the effectiveness of the active programs of the target municipalities from

the perspective of protecting rights of persons with disabilities.

The research was done using qualitative research methods: focus-groupsand in-depth interviews. 4 focus-group meetings were held in Ozurgeti city

and Ozurgeti municipalties. One with local non-governmental organizations,

one with parents of persons with disabilities and two with persons with dis-

abilities. 4 focus-group meetings were held in Rustavi City municipality: One

with non-governmental organizations working on the problems of persons

with disabilities, one with parents of persons with disabilities and two with

persons with disabilities.

11 individual interviews were taken in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti munic-

ipalities: One with the representatives of the organization of persons with

disabilities, one with the representative of local non-governmental organi-

zation working on women rights, six with the persons with disabilities and

three with the parents of the persons with disabilities. 11 in-depths inter-

views were taken in Rustavi city municipality: two with the representative

local non-governmental organization, five with persons with disabilities and

four with parents of persons with disabilities.


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Research issues:

• What are the local resources, that could ensure the active inclusion of

persons with disabilities in the activities of local self-governments;

•

Collect data – how frequently and in what form did the persons withdisabilities have the experience of communication with local

self-governments;

• Identification of the level of awareness of the function of self-govern-

ment and the importance of their own role;

• To identify the needs of persons with disabilities. With the purpose of

further advocacy to separate out those issues that are important for

their rights protection;

The research consists of five basic chapters. The main findings of the research

are given in the first chapter. Its goal is to birefly introduce to the reader that

basic needs, that according to the respodents mostly violate the rights of

persons with disabilities in the target municipalities of the research.

The second chapter consists of thematic research – The needs of persons

with disabilities in Ozurgeri city and Ozurgeti municipalities, that containsfollowing sub-chapters: Availability of physical environment, adapted trans-

port, employment, parking rules, attitude of society to the persons with dis-

abilities, accessibility of rehabilitation services, involvement in community

life, retraining courses for the parents, level of awareness of the activities of

self-government, programs of local self-governments for persons with dis-

abilities.

The third chapter contains thematic analysis of persons with disabilities inRustavi city municipality and consists of the following sub-chapters: Avail-

ability of the physical environment, adapted transport, education rights,

pre-school education, cultural and sport activities, rehabilitation/habilitation

services, day center space, insufficient number of day center voucher, family

assistance/home care services, society attitude, independent life, access to

information, statistics.

The fourth and fifth chapters represent the summary of the results of the

research and a list of recommendations that were developed by the research

group and respondents.


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Due to the lack of research practice in this field and the actuality of the issue,

this research will be interesting as for the persons with disability, their par-

ents and organizations of persons with disabilities, also for the local self-gov-

ernments of the target municipalities, whose direct liabilities are to solve the

problems mentioned by the persons with disabilities during this research.

I. Basic findings

1. Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities

In regard of availability of physical environment the main obstacle for the

persons with disabilities is non adapted environment in the department of

social service;

The non adapted environment completely excludes participation of persons

with disabilities in the activities of self-government bodies;

Due to the non-adapted environment the persons with disabilities cannot

use the services of primary health care;

Because of the non-adapted environment children with disabilities can’t get

general and pre-school education;

In regard of availability of physical environment the problem is the indepen-

dent use of washrooms by children with disabilities in institutions of general

education;

Because of the non-adapted environment children with disabilities usually

are involved in home-studying programs and therefore their parents usually

can’t work;

The obstacle to independent living of persons with disabilities is absence of

adapted public transport either in the city or between village and regional

center;

Due to the non-adapted municipal transport the rights of children with dis-

abilities to get education are usually violated;

The appropriate programs for employment of persons with disabilities in the

municipalities are not working;


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To eliminate the problem of employment part of persons with disabilities try

self-employment but the problem is the realization of the product made by

them;

The obstacle in the process of employment of the persons with disabilities is

the attitude of employees of local self-governments towards them, as theythink of this as secondary issue;

The obstacle to the independent living of persons with disabilities is the atti-

tude of society towards them;

Children with disabilities often become victims of bullying at school and

there is no corresponding reaction;

In pre-school educational institutions children with disabilities are left outfrom the educational process, there are no inclusive educational standards

in municipalities;

There are no parking places in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities and

because of this persons with disabilities have problems of movement;

In Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities there are no programs that in-

clude inclusion of persons with disabilities in society;

In Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities there are no services of early de-

velopment and rehabilitation for children with disabilities;

Besides one-time aids there are no programs with long-term perspectives of

solving problems of persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti

municipalities;

Persons with disabilities have no information about in which forms and howthey can be involved in activities of local self-government;

2. Rustavi city municipality

Besides day care center there are no rehabilitation services for children with

disabilities in Rustavi city municipality;

The problem in the process of rehabilitation of children with disabilities is the

lack of qualified staff;


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In terms of inclusion of persons with disabilities in society the problem is

availability of sports and cultural facilities;

In Rustavi city municipality one of the day care centers is not able to provide

corresponding services for beneficiaries because of absence of appropriate

area;

Because of absence of vouchers part of children with disabilities in Rustavi

city municipality wait for years for free space in day care center;

The issue of employment of persons with disabilities is a serious problem in

terms of promoting independent living of persons with disabilities;

In Rustavi city municipality there are no employment programs for persons

with disabilities;

Part of persons with disabilities try self-employment but they can’t realize

their products;

In Rustavi city municipality educational rights of children with special needs

are violated because of non-adapted physical environment and inner and

outer infrastructure of school;

Negative attitude of school administration and absence of corresponding

specialists and resources interfere children with disabilities to get general

knowledge;

Children with disabilities in Rustavi city municipality can’t get inclusive pre-

school education because of non-adapted physical environment, absence of

specialists and lack of awareness of educators;

A problem for local self-governments in protection of rights of persons withdisabilities is absence of corresponding statistics provided by self-govern-

ment;

Persons with disabilities and their parents in Rustavi city have a need of

home-care program;

In terms of protecting rights of persons with disabilities there is still a prob-

lem of attitude of society towards them;

For people without vision in Rustavi city the problem is absence of alterna-


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tive forms for getting public information;

There is no adapted municipal transport in Rustavi city;

As the research revealed there is need of adapted transport both inside the

city and towards Tbilisi;

Because of the non-adapted environment the majority of public and private

institutions are actually inaccessible for persons with disabilities;

In the process of independent movement of persons with disabilities the

problem is not only the availability of facilities but also the barriers at street

crossings and squares;

II. Thematic research – needs of persons with disabilities

living in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities

1. Availibility of physical environment

Persons with disabilities living in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities

name the main obstacle while participating in the activities of self-govern-ment as the problem of availability of physical environment. Non-adapted

environment actually makes it unable for persons using a wheelchair or with

physical movement problems to enter public facilities.

As a person with disabilities living in Ozurgeti city municipality declares

the main problem in terms of the availability of physical environment is a

non-adapted environment of social service department. According to the re-

spondent, persons with disabilities most frequently have to go to the depart-ment of social service in order to get involved in state sub-programs. Because

of the non-adapted environment they are obliged to receive service in the

streets:

I went to the agency. As I could not enter the building independently they called

me from above that they would come and provide service down. However I don’t

want to receive service outsides. I wanted to get inside myself and clarify the is-

sue. For my protest they usually answer that there isn’t time for ramps when people are so distressful – Person with disability.


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Non-adapted environment fully excludes persons with disabilities from par-

ticipating in the activities of self-governments. Actually the building of Ozu-

rgeti city council has ramps, but because of violation of standards people

with wheelchairs are not able to use them independently. At the same time

by using the ramps it’s only possible to get on the first floor where you can

just hand in an application and the meetings of city council and commissionsare held on the second floor. According to a person with wheelchairs despite

several attempts to enter the city council, he can’t do it without help:

Once I went to the city council. As I couldn’t enter, the council chairman went

down and tried to clear up a situation. Then I suggested him to sit in my chair and

try to go upstairs with these ramps. They are made so that if someone doesn’t

help you will fall down - Person with disability.

As an answer to the question for the main problem of persons with disabil-

ities in the municipality the respondents name the issue of availability of

environment that still remains an insuperable obstacle in Ozurgeti city and

Ozurgeti municipalities and they think that this issue is an obligation of the

local self-government:

At this stage I would single out as a main problem the absence of ramps that

makes big troubles for us. For example, I usually have to buy drugs and there is noadapted chemist’s-shop in Ozurgeti. So I usually have to ask someone for help, or

go to the chemist’s-shop and then use someone’s help to enter it. Several ramps

have been recently installed at some buildings but none of them corresponds to

the standards and therefore we still need help to enter these buildings - Person

with disability.

Because of the non-adapted environment in Ozurgeti people with wheel-

chairs usually have to receive service or clarify an issue using telephone or

they go to the building and get information in a car:

It often happens that when I go to the self-government institution and can’t get

inside then the staff comes outside and if I am in car I get service there or in the

street. If I only need to get information then I usually use telephone service – A

person with disability using wheel chair and living in Ozurgeti.

Children with disabilities and living in Ozurgeti usually can’t get qualitative

education because of the non-adapted environment. As a result of their par-ents activities ramps were installed at the school in village Dvabzu, but be-

cause of the violation of standards they can’t use the ramps independently:


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One child with disability from village Dvabzu could not go to school because of

the non-adapted environment. We, the parents, got active and pushed ultima-

tums towards the self-government to help in the problem-solving. The ramps

were installed but in such manner that children still need someone for help – Par-

ent of a child with disability.

Because of the absence of inner infrastructure of school buildings children

with disabilities still have problems of getting education in Ozurgeti munici-

pality. Parents of children with disabilities think of non-adapted washrooms

as a special problem:

Financially we are very poor. It’s true that a child has his own 100 GEL, but this

amount is fully needed for pampers. I don’t want him to stay uneducated. My

child uses a wheelchair and there is no ramps at school. I can help him to getinside but the main problem is the non-adapted washrooms - Parent of a child

with disability.

Non-adapted educational and living environment in Ozurgeti city municipal-

ity makes problems not only for children with disabilities, but also for their

family members. Because of the non-adapted school buildings their parents

actually are unable to get employed themselves because their children need

permanent help:My child has cerebral palsy. We are just two at home – me and my child. I don’t

even have the corresponding family environment for him to move independent-

ly. A year ago, our state gave me a wheelchair, but there is no corresponding en-

vironment nor at home neither at school so that my child could move using a

wheelchair. My child now gets education at home, teachers come to our house,

because if I send him to school I will have to be with him all time because there

is not corresponding environment at school. Only I work, I am a teacher and if I

am with him at school all time I will have to stop working. They promised recently

that ramps will be installed at our school, but washrooms are still non-adapted

and at the same time we need transport to get to school. There is no adapted

transport in Ozurgeti city. This is why my child can’t get education with his peers

- Parent of a child with disability.

2. Adapted transport

A serious problem for ensuring the independent living of people with phys-

ical movement problems living in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipality is


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absence of adapted public transport as within the city so between village

and regional center. Because of the non-adapted environment people with

disabilities usually can’t get to the social service centers, where they have to

write statements to get some support:

I need a wheelchair to go outside. Two years have passed since I can’t use my oldwheelchair, but I wasn’t able to go and write statement. I can’t go outside myself.

Someone must help to go to the yard. I need a taxi or go to the city. I don’t have

enough money for that – A person with disability.

Absence of adapted transport is a problem for persons with disabilities living

in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipality, that’s why their independent liv-

ing can’t be promoted:

Mostly I am disturbed because of inability to move within the city. We need

adapted transport. For example I want to go into the city independently and I

can’t. It was only once when the local self-government allocated transport for

center, minibus, but even that is non-adapted. A person with disabilities can’t use

it without help – A person with disability.

The right of children with disabilities to get general knowledge is violated

because of absence of non-adapted transport in Ozurgeti municipality. Thisis a special problem for children with disabilities living in the villages of Ozu-

rgeti municipality, where because of absence of asphalt it’s difficult to move

on long distances:

My child is 15 years old and studies at a village school, but we have problems of

attending school. We don’t have our own transport, it’s two years since the lo-

cal self-government has been promising to help, but nothing has been done yet.

Now we expect to get a wheelchair. I can’t transport him to school without it. Last year a teacher used to come to our house for a while. This year they haven’t done

even this. Soon we’ll get a wheelchair but even with a wheelchair it’s difficult to

cover long distances on village roads, because there is no asphalt and especially

it’s difficult during bad weather – Parent of a child with disability.

Some schools in Ozurgeti municipality have service of transporting but be-

cause of non-adapted transport it is absolutely useless for children with dis-

abilities;

My child is in the first class now. He has cerebral palsy, he can’t move, but he loves

studying very much and studies very well. My second child is one and a half years


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old and I am needed very much for him too. However, because of the non-adapt-

ed transport and school building I am permanently needed at school. School bus

comes and takes children to school, but it’s non-adapted and I can’t seat my child

there. He asks me to go to school every day – Parent of a child with disability.

3. Employment

The problem of employment is an obstacle to the full integration of persons

with disabilities in society in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities. Be-

cause of problems of employment in public or private institutions persons

with disabilities often try self-employment, they make different products but

their further realization is problematic:

I can make beads quite well, I also can knit. I want to be able to sell them but we

don’t have such possibilities at this stage – Person with disability.

According to the persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city municipality the

main problem for them is employment. It’s true that some people get tempo-

rarily employed but just in projects of non-governmental organizations that

end up quickly and aren’t stable:

We were a lot of children that grew up in the center, we got education, some ofus even finished a college but we can’t find job. Myself I got severally employed

in projects of non-governmental organizations but they ended and now I sit at

home – Person with disability.

During the research persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and Ozurge-

ti municipalities used to underline that a serious problem for their employ-

ment is the attitude of the staff of self-government. They often think of em-

ployment of people with disabilities as secondary problem:

I have often heard: “There’s not time for your employment, we have to employ

healthy people at first”. But let’s take into consideration that people with disabil-

ities need more attention. Their unemployment and unrealization shifts to their

families and all this is such a problematic chain that possibly it should be the ob-

ligation of the state to solve this problem. Promotion of persons with disabilities,

their realization, employment and involvement in society must become a priority

– Person with disability.

According to the persons with disabilities that participated in this research


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the problem is that the local self-government doesn’t even know the number

of persons with disabilities living on their territory, level of their education,

how their resources can be used. In addition to pointing out the problem

they also speak of ways of problem-solving and their importance:

We don’t know how many persons with disabilities are employed, how manyhave higher education, what professions do they own. These people don’t know

how to sell their labor in the discriminative environment that exists among em-

ployers. I would start from the organizations that do the state orders. Actually

there is no serious business that is developing without state purchases. I would

rise quota a bit, by telling them to hire this number of people, of course in reason-

able manner. How many millions were spent in agricultural sphere. There is such

a large number of people with hearing problems that can freely work physical-

ly. This would be motivation for these people. If they employed 100 people, howmany people would be promoted for development. They can arrange a business

forum, where they could show facts of employment of persons with disabilities

and businessmen could see how their resources can be used – Person with dis-

ability.

4. Parking rules

According to the persons with disabilities one of the serious problems in their

municipality is the absence of parking spaces that makes serious troubles for

their movement:

There are no parking places in our city, neither for persons with disabilities nor

ordinary parking places. I remember one case when I wanted to buy some goods.

My friend took me to the market, we stopped the car, but police came and warned

us that it was not allowed to stop car there because the parking lines were not

painted. We stopped at the most comfortable place for me to get out from the

car – Person with disability.

5. Attitude of society towards persons with disabilities

To the question about which obstacles occur to the promotion of involve-

ment and independent living of persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and

Ozurgeti municipalities children with disabilities and their parents answerthat in addition to the physical environment and non-adapted transport the

problem is the attitude of society towards people with disabilities:


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Many were surprised to see me at school. They didn’t expect that I would have

such good results. Everyone thought that I had to get education at home be-

cause I was a person with disability – Person with disability.

According to the persons with disabilities that took participation in the re-

search they notice different attitude from society, there’s mockery, compas-sion and surprise when they see people with disabilities in educational insti-

tutions or public places:

When they see me in the street, I often hear phrases “Such a pity! Everyone has his

minuses” – Persons with disability

Parents single out bullying at school, that often happens towards children

with disabilities and they think that teachers and parents must be informed

to solve this problem:

It often happens, that children don’t want to go to school because they were rid-

iculed. Development of teachers and parents is very important. Some teachers

say, why are you bringing your children to school, why are you torturing them

– Parent of a child with disability.

Because of the not adequate reaction from the school administration on the

case of bullying towards children with disabilities, parents had to take theirchildren out from school:

One of my children went to school. Other children made fun of him, although I

wanted him very much to study with other children. Because the school admin-

istration didn’t manage to solve this problem I was obliged to take my child out

from school and now teachers are coming to our house – Parent of a child with

disability.

Parents of children with disabilities that participate in the research talk about

ways of solving the problem of involvement of children with disabilities in

the education process of kindergartens in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti mu-

nicipalities. According to them children with disabilities are left beyond the

process as usual:

For our children it is important to be fully involved in kindergartens. As I see these

children are rejected from others, educators aren’t interested in their develop-

ment. Usually they don’t give the same home work as they do to other children.

They give them a pencil and paper, make them sit somewhere not to disturb oth-


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ers – Parent of a child with disability.

5.1. Individual case

I was absolutely closed off, I thought the life has ended and totally gave up.

I was at school-age when I started using a wheelchair. There was not possibility,

environment to go to school so the teachers used to come to our house. When I

finished school I intended to enter college, but I met big problems. Everyone told

that it had no sense for me to continue studying. Then I discovered that the col-

lege where I had to study did not have the ramps and it would be difficult for me

to go there, we didn’t have car and there was no transport towards it. Despite

these obstacles I didn’t deny my intention and filed the application. I was one of

the first people in our city to continue studying in college.

Despite the fact that I couldn’t go up on higher floors of the college, students used

to help me and I managed to continue studying. At first I had great fear, how

my college classmates would accept me, but fortunately my environment was

exception, there were no events made without me, I participated everywhere. All

this should be put down to my college classmates credit.

Although this college is still functioning, as I know there have not went any other persons with disabilities. This was just my endeavour.

Despite the fact that I was involved in every event just like my classmates and I

studied like them, sometimes the professors still had attitude like pity. I remem-

ber on occasion. One professor came from Tbilisi, when he saw my wheelchair he

offered me that he would rewrite the tests and answers for me. I felt very badly at

that moment, I got angry. I said I wanted to pass the exams just like others did.

My answer surprised him.

6. Availability of rehabilitation services

As an answer to the question about the main problem that disturbs children

with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities and that should

be solved by the self-government the parents named absence of rehabilita-

tion centers and early development programs:

The biggest problem for our children is that none of the rehabilitation centers

are functioning in our municipality. We, the parents, have one wish to have some


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kind of rehabilitation center, where children should be able to get service from

the corresponding specialist. Those who have opportunity take their children

once in three months to Tbilisi but this is not enough. And majority of children

can’t do even this. There is just one day care center in the city and it obviously

can’t serve everyone, moreover when its profile isn’t the promotion of early devel-

opment – Parent of a child with disability.

According to the respondents, children with disabilities and their parents

that participated in the research, a serious problem is absence of correspond-

ing specialists in the city:

Majority of children needs service of speech therapist. There are three regions in

Guria but there’s no occupational therapist. We would undergo difficulties and

somehow get the service – Parent of a child with disability.

7. Involvement in community life

According to the persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti mu-

nicipalities, the most important for them is to have possibility of involvement

in different spheres of community life. As they say the local self-government

is absolutely passive in this direction and no programs are implemented.

They can remember just one case when the local government allocatedsome funds to take people with disabilities to excursion. But according to

the respondents this is not stable and result-oriented program that would

ensure long-term involvement of persons with disabilities in society:

Our main request to the local self-government is to create conditions for us to

go outside, contact people, take part in every event that is held in the municipal-

ity. People see us rarely and that’s the reason why they look at us with pity and

sometimes with aggression. If they saw us every day this uncomfortable momentwould disappear and their attitude would change.

Because of the obstacles in the city I am coming outside so rarely that even little

changes makes me very happy. It was only once when the local self-government

took several people to the excursion. It’s important for us to create such programs

that would make possible for us to go outside and the most important in it is to

be available for everyone – A person with disability.


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8. Retraining courses for parents

According to the parents of children with disabilities that took part in the

research the government’s priority should be retraining of parents. As they

say, they have practical knowledge and if theoretical knowledge is added it

would be a good basis in terms of parents employment and more effectiveattitude to their children:

I worked at school. I am a teacher of mathematics. Then I was needed for my child

and I had to leave. If they consider my experience as a teacher and relationship

with my child and arrange retraining for me, it would be better for me, my child

and others, as I could work with my child more effectively. I did several trainings

on my own initiative, I am always attentive to what happens in this direction in

our city – Parent of a child with disability.

9. Level of awareness of the activities of self-government

One of the study issues of the research was to determine the level of aware-

ness of persons with disabilities and their parents of the activities of self-gov-

ernment. Particularly what information did they have about the activities of

government, their obligations and competencies that are linked to solvingthe problems of persons with disabilities. According to the respondents that

participated in the research they have never been informed about self-gov-

ernment role, obligations and forms of demanding to solve the problems

that occur daily:

Actually we never get any information. As we know, this is a new issue. We never

had some trainings and there was no attempt to give us some information. That

general knowledge that we’ve had till today is from non-governmental organizations. One we know, that existing social problems must be solved partially by

local self-government. This is the only information that we own – A person with

limited liability.

10. Programs of local self-government for persons with disabili-

ties

To the question about how they would evaluate the programs and budget

planning process of local self-government in terms of problems of persons

with disabilities, the respondents answered that local self-government of


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Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities reflects problems of persons with

disabilities in budget development process only in single dozes and doesn’t

have long-term programs for existing problems:

How can they grant just one-time assistance for solving the problems that we are

facing. We hope that the local self-government will understand soon that theyneed advisors in these issues. How can they limit with one-time assistance. They

should have some money in budget for persons with disabilities. It’s possible that

someone doesn’t need one-time help but someone needs help three times, what

do we do then? I helped you once and it’s over? I strongly disagree. Budget must

be calculated in long-term. They have aids for drugs in self-governments, I agree,

but there also must be differences, for what are these one-time assistances dedi-

cated? – Person with disabilities.

According to the persons with disabilities that participated in the research

the local self-government is spending funds inappropriately. Truly there are

one-time assistances but they don’t actually solve problems:

The worst thing is that actually big amount of money is spent on persons with

disabilities but inappropriately. We don’t see real result – A person with disabil-

ity.

III. Thematic research – needs of persons with disabilities

living in Rustavi city municipality

1. Availability of physical environment

Non-adapted physical environment is an insuperable obstacle for personswith disabilities in Rustavi city municipality. That’s why every public or private

institution is actually inaccessible for them.

Part of people with disabilities has been actively trying to raise this question

at a self-government level, they make statements, but as they say no person

has appeared to start working on this issue:

If there is no state will nothing will happen. When you go to the staff of self-gov-

ernment, they make promises but do nothing. I have left letter at the CIC, I even

was a member of commission and the building was non-adapted. The primary


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problem is that the environment should be adapted, at least two buses must be

adapted. We are only few people that come outsides and don’t take current envi-

ronment into consideration, but majority is sitting at home. I have been working,

trying for years but nothing will change if the government doesn’t do something

in response. At first we must think about the adaptation of environment. Some

of us may have a profession but how will he get to the working place. The secondissue is employment, we must first get to that point – Person with disability.

According to the persons with disabilities in Rustavi city the arrangement of

adapted environment is a primary need, without which it’ll be impossible to

talk about education, employment and involvement in society:

The primary problem is still infrastructure. This is the thing that mostly disturbs

every person with disability, because without this you can’t go outside, study, getemployed, get to the medical institution, meet friend, go for fun. This must be pri-

ority for the local self-government. They should make adapted transport, roads,

ramps that will make movement easier for us – Person with disability.

As persons with disabilities say the only solution to this is that every new

building must be licensed with the obligation of universal design. They say

that this is included in the law, but it’s not executed in practice:

Nowadays there are big investments for development of infrastructure in Rustavicity. The obligation of universal design must be included in the license of every

building from the beginning. They often say it’s expensive, but they never sub-

stantiate that, just speak. I have went to several construction works but no one

gets interested in this problem. That’s because the government doesn’t obligate

them – Person with disability.

During the research a person with disability remembered that once he

couldn’t take his own salary because of the non-adapted physical environ-ment:

I couldn’t find such job, such as bank or pharmacy, that would have obligation

of adaptation from the beginning of construction work. When they already start

building and you go with request, they say it’s too late. In the past I worked at

the adapted corporation in Tbilisi, salary was transferred to TBC bank. As they

saw I was their consumer, the ATM was inside and I needed at least two people

to help me get inside. I addressed them and they didn’t answer – A person withdisability.


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According to the respondents, in addition to buildings the problem in Rus-

tavi city is infrastructure, obstacles at street crossings and park entrances. As

they say, the main problem is that the issue of accessibility is not considered

even during the process of planning new rehabilitation works:

The kerb-stones on Leonidze street were made in such way that we couldn’t getover them. As soon as I saw it I rushed to the city hall, brought main architect, he

offered to take actions but went away and nothing was done. They were doing

big kerb-stones on my street too but team-leader turned out to be a wise man

and paid attention to that. This must be systematic, they must take this issue into

consideration from the beginning, I can’t track everyone. The orders must come

from the self-government – A person with disability.

2. Adapted transport

Non-adapted transport disturbs the independent living of persons with dis-

abilities in Rustavi city municipality and especially of those who have move-

ment problems. Because of the location of Rustavi city many people study

and get employed in Tbilisi, so there is need of adapted transport as inside

the city so between Rustavi and Tbilisi. According to the persons with dis-

abilities they had meeting with the officials about these problems, nothing

was achieved with negotiations, so they addressed them officially but the

problem is still unsolved:

At first I used to go to the city mayor and head of council myself but it had no

results. Then I started to write official letters but there was no answer. I under-

stand that all problems can’t be solved together and every single transport can’t

be adapted, but at least two should still be. I will know traffic schedule and plan

everything according to it – A person with disability.Because of the non-adapted transport majority of persons with disabilities in

Rustavi city can’t come outside for months. The only way for moving within

the city is a Taxi, but persons with disability can’t use them, because their

basic income is social benefit:

During the day I often want to go to other district, but do you know how I am?

I am exactly like held in leash. I can’t cover Taxi, my pension isn’t sufficient even

for food and hygiene products, and even if I had money I still would have to sitin car, get our, put a wheelchair in the trunk. Often Taxi work on Gas and there

is not enough space for a wheelchair. I don’t have complaints towards taxi driv-


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ers, everyone treats me well, they think of it as ordinary thing. They have human

attitude, think of me as ordinary passenger. The only problem is that there is not

enough space for a wheelchair in every trunk. That problem in the city makes a

big barrier for me. Myself I am a very active person. I want to go to the market, I

love movies, theatre, but I can’t go there – Person with disability.

3. Employment

As an answer to the question about the main obstacle to the promotion of

independent living of persons with disabilities in Rustavi city municipality

the majority of respondents named employment. As a parent of person with

disability said, people after eighteen are left absolutely without functions:

One boy with a wheelchair is my neighbor, he finished school, professional insti-

tution, but he haven’t been able to find job for years. Now I see hi started drinking

and he’ll get even in more difficult situation. I don’t want my child to get in the

same situation – Parent of a child with disability.

According to a parent of a person with disability, they addressed the local

government to promote employment, but without results, despite the fact

that her son owns the profession of outdoor landscaping and there is real

demand on his profession:

My son wants to get employed very much. Everyone that I and he addressed does

nothing. He finished professional institution, specialty of outdoor landscaping.

Let it be even a small park, if they allocate he can fully arrange it. There is nothing

in such a big district to bring child outside and stroll a little. If the city hall helps

a little, even with seedlings, then we’ll arrange everything and these children will

also get employed. At least one child should get employed. There are so many

new firms, enterprises. We went to the head of the department of landscapingbut our meeting had no result – Parent of a person with disability.

Part of persons with disabilities in Rustavi city try self-employment. They

make different things but can’t realize them:

I am 22 years old now, I finished school and go to the day care center. I can do

many things, I paint well, make beads with my design, weave carpets, but I can’t

sell them so far. I need help in this direction very much, or some job where I canuse my knowledge – Person with disability.


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Parents of persons with disabilities say that employment is the only oppor-

tunity and guarantee for their children to live independently in the future,

when they have no parents and will have look after themselves. So they think

that the local government should set the employment of persons with dis-

abilities as a priority:

I have never addressed the local self-government when my child was little. He’s

now adult and I don’t see other solutions. The self-government must get involved

in the employment of these people. When we are no more alive they shall have

some future, live independently. I don’t ask something special, just something in

the range of their individual possibilities, just anything. The most important for

them is to have their own income – Parent of a person with disability.

Until there is no adapted transport and physical environment for part of thepersons with disabilities in Rustavi city even the work that can be done at

home is acceptable:

I have a problem of employment. I will do everything I can. I own computer at

quite high level. If there’s adapted environment it’ll be no problem to go outside.

I can’t move independently now. In this case job at home will be acceptable for

me – Person with disability.

Parents of the persons with disabilities that participated in the research thinkthat in addition to the non-adapted environment the problem in terms of

employment is the absence of employment policy in self-government:

There are complex problems in the direction of employment. Besides the

non-adapted environment, the main problem is the absence of employment

policy. The sounds about new quotas in private companies were just spread but

no one knows whether they correspond to the truth, where they came from, than

they start ringing, determining whether it’s true or not – Parent of a person withdisability.

4. The right to education

The rights of education of children with special needs in Rustavi city are vio-

lated because of the non-adapted physical environment. The problem is also

infrastructure of schools, that are totally inaccessible for children:

It’s second year since my child actually hasn’t gone to school. He wants to study


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but there are such barriers that he doesn’t want to overcome them every day. We

are close to the school, but the road is arranged so that a car may hit him, and the

inner road is in very bad condition. There is no appropriate entrance, sometimes

other children help him, there are three steps and he suffers much. Particular-

ly there are no schools with adapted environment for children with disabilities.

Often other children pay attention but this doesn’t happen regularly. The schoolbell may ring and everyone can’t wait for him. And he already became self-re-

specting. You don’t always enjoy asking others for help – Parent of a child with

disability.

According to the parents of children with disabilities that participated in the

research the negative attitude of school administration and absence of corre-

sponding specialists and resources prevent children with special needs from

getting education:

There was no resource-room in the school to bring children for a while. There was

no special professor. It was difficult for the children to sit at the same place for

6 lectures. Director was disposed aggressively to the fact that we brought chil-

dren to his school. They didn’t ask where to take our children, the old school was

dissolved and we came where they allocated us. So I had to find a new school

with resource-room and the director met us with pleasure. At the old school they

didn’t let them even to attend the lectures, children were in the corridors. My childfinally refused to go to school – Parent of a child with disability.

5. Pre-school education

According to the results of the research children with disabilities in Rustavi

city municipality don’t get qualitative inclusive pre-school education. By the

opinion of the parents of the children with disabilities that participated in the

research the reason for this is non-adapted environment, absence of appro-priate specialists in kindergartens and lack of awareness of educators:

I know almost every child of kindergarten age and almost none of them go to

kindergarten. There is just one kindergarten at the Rustavi center of persons with

disabilities, where only children with disabilities go. There are several reasons to

this: One is absolutely non-adapted environment and second is that specialists

know absolutely nothing about inclusive education – Parent of a child with dis-

ability.


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6. Cultural and sport activities

According to the persons with disabilities and parents of children with dis-

abilities that participated in the research the accessibility of cultural and

sport activities and absence of corresponding institutions is a problem for

the involvement of persons with disabilities in society in Rustavi city munic-ipality:

There are no sport or cultural activities in Rustavi. If there are some rare events I

can’t attend them because of unavailability of transport and environment. There

are two swimming pools in Rustavi. We addressed the Rustavi city hall several

times to allocate several places or make adaptation, but without results – A per-

son with disability.

According to the parent of a child with disability that participated in the re-

search the issue of accessibility of sport and cultural activities is particularly

important in summer period. As they say, the majority of families that have

children with disabilities don’t have enough money to take their children out

of town in summer, so the only way out is that there must be sporting re-

habilitation institutions available in the city and this would somehow solve

their problems:

We can’t go anywhere this summer. Many other parents are also in the same sit-

uation. The prices in the resorts are very high. So we are in Rustavi for the whole

summer. Therefore it’ll be good if there were sport institution, at least they could

make the swimming pool available for us, make benefits for season tickets for us

to be possible to take our children there – Parent of a child with disability.

7. Rehabilitation/Habilitation services

The parents of children with disabilities living in Rustavi city that participated

in the research say that one of the serious problems is the absence of reha-

bilitation centers. The only such facility is the day care center. Although as

they say, the day center and its programs can’t be named as rehabilitation

center and an institution necessary for the involvement of persons with dis-

abilities in society. In addition to this the parents claim that there are much

more people in Rustavi city that need rehabilitation centers and just one day

care center can’t service them all:


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We must start from the basics of what our children need. The actual situation in

our city: The only fact is the presence of day care center where our children go.

They sit there for the whole day and then return back. It’s true that there are some

activities but this is not enough for full rehabilitation. It’s like a shelter for those

children that go there – Parent of a child with disability.

In addition to the rehabilitation services according to the children with dis-

abilities that participated in the research the problem is the lack of specialists

needed for rehabilitation and that’s why all children with disabilities can’t be

satisfied:

Our children permanently need service of psychologist, speech therapist, service

of special educator as in kindergartens so at schools and outside. With this prob-

lem we severally addressed the local self-government but usually they explainthe absence of such specialists in the kindergartens with the lack of such spe-

cialists generally and that’s why additional programs of rehabilitation and early

development aren’t arranged. Additional funds must be allocated to invite and

retrain specialists needed for our city – Parent of a child with disability.

8. Space of day care center

In 2009 the parents of children with disabilities in Rustavi city municipality

established a non-governmental organization “Association of parents of chil-

dren suffering from nervous disorders”. In 2013 this organization was regis-

tered as supplier of service, within which 8 children get service of day care

center, take courses of social therapy, make different things for further reali-

zation. From the day of establishment the center has been functioning in the

private house of one of the parents. In 2014 the strong rain damaged the roof

of the center and its functioning became impossible. During the research the

staff of the center and the parents of children with disabilities noted that theyseverally addressed Rustavi city hall and asked to allocate some space for the

center but the problem isn’t solved even today.

We, the parents have one more problem, that’s the problem of space of the day

care center that was established in 2013 in Rustavi city. The center was estab-

lished by the initiative of the parents. At first we were functioning in the house

of one of the parents but then the rain damaged the roof and today it’s actually

impossible to continue functioning. Children that had been coming to our center

for two years and had an important progress are now left at home.

Earlier the city council planned to allocate some space but then at that place the


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rehabilitation of kindergarten began and the discussion on our problem stopped.

When we go now they send us to each other and we can’t solve the problem –

Parent of a child with disability.

9. The lack of vouchers of day care center

According to the parents of children with disabilities that participated in the

research the problem of the lack of vouchers of day care center has been un-

solved for years. As they say, there are always children that wait in queues to

get service of day care center at least:

There is one more problem that disturbs us, the parents of the children with dis-

abilities in Rustavi city. This is the lack of voucher of day care center of Rustavicity. We addressed the ministry of health to solve this problem. They said that

Rustavi city hall doesn’t demand that. A lot of children are waiting in queues

and in the ministry they don’t know it. I privately know eight such children. The

ministry claims that Rustavi doesn’t demand and Rustavi says that the ministry

doesn’t give finances. We, the parent went to the city hall, raised the issue, but

just speech remained and nothing was done – Parent of a child with disability.

10. Family assistant / Home care service

As the interviews taken from the parents of persons with disabilities in Rus-

tavi city revealed one part of parents especially needs home care services.

Some of them live alone with their children with disabilities and because of

their difficult condition they permanently need an assistant. They can’t get

employed and so they rely only on social benefits. Besides the income these

people need specialists’ help but it’s impossible because of the absence of

such service:

My child has severe disabilities, it’s very difficult to look after him, he can’t do any-

thing independently. I need very much an assistant, that will look after him for a

while, so that I could work. As I have to be with him all the time, our only income

is his pension. I think the local government should create some program that will

ensure visit of assistant, specialist in such cases. Because of diabetes many my

organs were damaged, I actually have no vision and if I can’t take care of my

child I’m very afraid what will happen to him. I severally addressed the Rustavicity hall, but there is no program and I haven’t received even one-time assistance.


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For some kind of rehabilitation of people that are at home all the time and can’t

go outside the visit of specialist is very important – Parent of a person with dis-

ability.

11. Attitude of society

According to the opinions of persons with disabilities and their parents the

independent living and integration of persons with disabilities in Rustavi city

is disturbed by the attitude of society that is usually based on pity:

Oh, what a pity – that ruins me when they call me so. Sometimes I answer them

but when I’m left alone it’s still very difficult for me. Not everyone can get over this

and that’s why they try not to go outside – Person with disability.

12. Independent living

Persons with disabilities that were interviewed in Rustavi city think that the

most important is that all programs or initiatives that the local government

will arrange must be aimed to promote their independent living and not just

one-time cash assistance that they await for years:

I don’t want extra attention. Sometimes they say that everything must be done

for them because they are persons with disabilities. I don’t want this, I want ex-

actly I need, I want to look after myself independently – A person with disability.

13. Accessibility of information

Persons without vision in Rustavi city say that the problem of accessibility of

public information is a serious obstacle for them. Today there is no alterna-tive way of spreading information in Rustavi city, whether it is Braille type or

audio version:

The public information must be spread in Braille type or in audio form. It’s diffi-

cult to write but in the best case the audio version would be very good. They must

have at least Braille and electronic versions, because they are easy and cheap.

Audio is more expensive because you need a studio, a reader, writer, audio ed-

iting that is expensive and takes much time. Braille and especially the electronic

form of spreading public information is very easy. Ordinarily sending by E-mail


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should be possible – A person with disability.

14. Statistics

Persons with disabilities living in Rustavi city and their parents think that

at first the local self-government must provide full statistics, determine the

number of persons with disabilities living on their territory, their needs and

then according to this information plan programs:

Statistics is a serious problem. There are a lot of issues that don’t need much

money, only the attitude has to be changed but there is no the state will. For ex-

ample the self-government, they should evaluate the environment, collect real

statistics, determine the needs of people.

There is some kind of general statistics but it doesn’t correspond to reality. Ma-

jority of persons with disabilities are locked at home, even their neighbors don’t

know anything about them. When we wanted to open a center, we, the parents

started volunteering, we were going through the streets looking for the persons

with disabilities – Parent of a person with disability.

IV. Conclusion

According to the results of the research the main obstacles to the protection

of rights, promotion of independent living, involvement in the public and lo-

cal self-government activities of persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and

Ozurgeti municipalities are the unavailability of physical environment, ab-

sence of adapted municipal transport and general transport infrastructure,

among them the absence of parking spaces. At the municipal level there is

no politics of employment of the persons with disabilities. The attitude ofsociety remains still problematic, as it’s often based on pity that excludes the

chance of development and living equally with others for the persons with

disabilities.

There are no rehabilitation and early development programs for children

with disabilities in Ozurgeti and Ozurgeti municipality. There are no corre-

sponding specialists in Guria region. The problem becomes more complicat-

ed because of the lack of the specialists that could sell their individual serviceto the parents.


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According to the research, the development of programs oriented on solv-

ing the problems of persons with disabilities during the process of municipal

program planning is a problem in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities.

Because of the non-adapted buildings of the local self-government and ab-

sence of adapted municipal transport the level of involvement of persons

with disabilities in the activities of the local self-government is very low. Theydon’t even have a chance to attend meeting of council/commission and state

their position.

Like Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities the main obstacles to the main

obstacles to the protection of rights, promotion of independent living, in-

volvement in the public and local self-government activities of persons with

disabilities in Rustavi city are unavailability of physical environment and ab-

sence of adapted transport at the municipal level. In addition to the innerstructure of the buildings the problem for the independent moving of per-

sons with disabilities in Rustavi city are outer infrastructure, street crossing

and park entrances.

The events and programs planned by the local self-governments are still lim-

ited with one-time help of persons with disabilities and they are not dedicat-

ed for the long-term perspective of problem solving. The obstacle to the pro-

motion of independent living of persons with disabilities is also the attitudeof the society.

Needs of children with disabilities are not considered the municipal pro-

grams, that’s why they can’t get qualitative pre-school education. Non-adapt-

ed transport infrastructure is a general problem in the educational process.

A special problem for persons with disabilities in Rustavi city is the absence of

employment politics and that excludes the possibility for them to live inde-

pendently. Majority of them is dependent on pension and help of the family.

Despite the fact that problems of the persons with disabilities are basically

the same in Ozurgeti city, Ozurgeti and Rustavi city municipalities the rec-

ommendations were developed individually for each one, considering their

individual specifics and according to the opinions of the respondents that

participated in the research and processed results of the research.


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V. Recommendations

1. 1. Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities

The agency of social service in Ozurgeti city should be adapted according tothe individual needs of persons with disabilities of all categories;

Buildings of the city hall/administration and council of Ozurgeti city and Ozu-

rgeti municipalities should be adapted according to the individual needs of

persons with disabilities of all categories;

The rights of persons with disabilities and full adherence to current standards

should be considered while giving certificates of all types of construction;

Within their competencies the municipalities of Ozugeti city and Ozurgeti

should ensure the adaptation of the inner and outer infrastructure of schools

in accordance with the individual needs of children with disabilities of all cat-

egories;

Adapted municipal transport within the city and between the Ozurgeti city

and village should be arranged for persons with disabilities of all categories;

The Ozurgeti city hall and Ozurgeti municipality administration should de-

velop the action plan of employment and retraining of persons with disabil-

ities of all categories;

The program for raising public awareness of the issues of the persons with

disabilities in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities should be arranged;

There should be developed and implemented the parking system in accor-

dance with the needs of persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city municipal-

ity;

They should ensure the programs of rehabilitation and early development of

children with disabilities within their competency.

The needs of persons with disabilities should be considered while planning

municipal programs and the effective mechanism for their involvement in

decision making process must be ensured;


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1.2. Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia

The inner and outer infrastructure of schools should be adapted in accor-

dance with the individual needs of children with disabilities of all categories

in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities;

There should be arranged programs for the professional development of the

parents with the corresponding qualification.

1.3. Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia

The centers of rehabilition and early development of children with disabili-

ties should be open in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities and the ad-equate number of vouchers should be allocated;

2.1. Rustavi City Municipality

Buildings of the city hall and council of Rustavi city municipality should be

adapted according to the individual needs of persons with disabilities of all

categories;

There must be arranged adapted transport inside the city and towards Tbilisi

for persons with disabilities of all categories;

Rustavi city hall should develop a long-term action plan for employment and

raising qualification of the persons with disabilities of all categories;

Within their competencies they should insure the creation of the programs of

rehabilitation and early development of children with disabilities;

There should be open cultural and sport institutions available for persons

with disabilities of all categories;

A space for the day care center founded by “Association of parents of children

suffering from nervous disorders” should be allocated;

The infrastructure of transport for getting to school and outer infrastructure

should be adapted in accordance with the individual needs of children withdisabilities of all categories to ensure their general education;


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Pre-school inclusive educational standards should be created in the kinder-

gartens of Rustavi city municipality;

Rustavi city hall should ensure retraining of the administration, educator and

assistance personal of kindergartens according to the individual needs of

children with disabilities of all categories;

The building of kindergarten and outer infrastructure should be in rear-

ranged according to the needs of children with disabilities;

Rustavi city hall should ensure the detailed research of the needs of persons

with disabilities on their territory and implement effective and long-term

programs based on that research;

There must be created a program for raising the awareness of society of theissues of the persons with disabilities in Rustavi city municipality;

Alternative ways of dissemination of information for people without vision

should be founded;

2.2. Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia

The number of vouchers of day care center of Rustavi city municipality should

be increased according to the real needs and demand;

2.3. Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia

Inner and outer infrastructures of the public schools of Rustavi city munic-

ipality should be adapted regarding the individual needs of children with

disabilities of all categories;

School administration should be informed about the individual needs of chil-

dren with disabilities of all categories;

There must be allocated resource rooms in public schools according to the

needs and the specialists of corresponding quantity and competency should

be employed;

Documents

RESEARCH OF NEEDS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES