Problems faced by children and young people with disabilities: conclusions of focus groups in Zaporizhzhia

The public organization Autism. Conscious Parenting held a round table discussion entitled “Protecting the rights of children and young people with disabilities in humanitarian response situations: conclusions of focus groups and recommendations for Zaporizhzhia.” The event was part of the advocacy campaign “Humanitarian response: everyone has the right to protection,” which is being implemented as part of the project “Strengthening the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities during humanitarian response and recovery in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”

This was reported by the NGO “Autism. Conscious Parenting” on its сторінці Facebook

The event was attended by Valentina Kononenko, representative of the Government Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Zaporizhzhia region, representatives of the Department of Social Protection of the Population of the Zaporizhzhia City Council, the acting director of the Zaporizhzhia City Territorial Center for Social Services (provision of social services), representatives of public organizations, as well as parents of children and young people with disabilities.

Participants discussed the results of focus groups with parents of preschoolers, schoolchildren, and young people aged 18+, which Zaporizhzhia activists conducted as part of an advocacy campaign. Based on transcripts and analysis, they prepared recommendations for local authorities.

Among the proposals: create a single portal/chatbot with information about services (accessible formats); place information stands in kindergartens, schools, and hospitals; launch special transport and compensation for travel, taking into account air raid alerts; increase the number of specialists, reduce queues for rehabilitation to 1 month; monetize services (vouchers for classes/medicines); expand early intervention programs, day care, sensory rooms in schools, involve parent councils and community organizations of people with disabilities in evacuation and monitoring plans; ensure access to services in frontline areas and for IDPs.

Ahead of activists is joint work with the authorities for real change to improve the quality of life for families raising children and young people with disabilities in the Zaporizhzhia community.

The project “Strengthening the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities during humanitarian response and recovery in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” is being implemented by the NAPD within the framework of a grant from the International Disability Alliance (IDA). Міжнародного Альянсу людей з інвалідністю (IDA)