- My son Ivan is 10 years old. He has such a type of autism that is called severe but at the same time he has a huge hidden potential. But in order for him to study special adapted to his demands conditions have to be created, special methods recognized all over the world should be used for socialization and teaching. It will give my son a possibility to show his talents and successfully adapt – Tatiana Golubovich the coordinator of parent initiative of the capital’s school № 5 starts her story. – Each such kid has a huge potential and they need assistance to unlock it.

In what cases is joint work a great way to integration? Why do we talk not only about people with disabilities when we are talking about accessibility? What services can NGO render? We are trying to find answers to these questions together with a representative of organization “APEIRONS” Ivars Balodis who together with his team came to Belarus to participate in Accessibility Week – 2014.

Чаму арганізацыі лічаць важным падпісаць Мемарандум аб далучэнні да Канвенцыі аб правах інвалідаў, разважаюць прадстаўнікі грамадскай супольнасці.

This year the Accessibility Week took place for the second time and lasted from June 1 to June 15 2014. The peculiarity of this year’s event was that activities took place not only in Minsk but also in other cities of Belarus: Grodno, Kobrin, Zhitkovichi, Lida, Smorgon, Baran, Bobruisk.

Not so long ago in Belarus information campaign “Inclusion of persons with disabilities to local community” has started; it promotes the concept of independent living outside institutions. Because we have just started we should consider the possibility to get acquainted with the experience of foreign countries and to choose the best practices for our country. Today we will talk with a social worker of the Danish organization “European House” Line Petersen.

Such topics as how to accept a person with disability without trying to change him, how to make laws work and make people play the main role and not to be just a topic of a discussion were discussed at the round table devoted to a new state program for 2016-2020.

- Even in Latvia it is difficult to say about 100% accessible environment, people call us all the time, even from other countries and ask where they can get without barriers, – says the head of the council of the organization of people with disabilities and their friends “Apeirons” Ivars Balodis. – That is why such an app for android and iphone is very useful – it helps to have all the necessary information about accessibility of environment on your mobile.

As a rule before every training participants fill in forms where they mention their gender, age, contacts and describe their interests. At this stage we can already find out if the participants of your training have special needs. In order to find out you just need to include to the form such questions as “Do you have special nutrition needs?” or “Do you have special needs or wishes?”. By paying attention to such moments you will avoid accidents and will be respected by people for whom it is really important to have an opportunity to order a vegetarian pizza or to have wide aisles in the conference hall.

Children’s holiday “Light your star” took place in Gorky Park in Minsk. Funny games and quizzes, fair of handmade souvenirs, communication with interesting people were just a part of surprises prepared by the organizers for their guests. The holiday became a reason to meet and to communicate with children many of whom have a disability to meet with their peers from different parts of Belarus.

Specialists of the Office for the rights of persons with disabilities offered guests of the holiday to “sign with their heart” the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.