Kazakhstan launches project for promoting inclusive society for children with disabilities and special needs

The programme will be jointly implemented by East Kazakhstan authorities, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Special Olympics.
These days 30 children with special needs in the age from 2 to 7 with their parents will receive recommendations from Special Olympic specialists on proper development, familiarizing children with physical activities and their prompting to participate in the sport events. This programme will help to improve intellectual and physical development of children with intellectual problems, involve children into the sport world and give an opportunity to the members of their family and friends to reveal capacity of the child but not his problems, UNICEF Kazakhstan said.
Out of 5,000,000 children in Kazakhstan 150,000 are children with disabilities and special needs including more than 63, 000 children who were officially given a disability status. The Government of Kazakhstan supports children with disabilities and their families by providing special benefits, medical and social services: specialized social workers, individualized rehabilitation care, in-home support and day-care centers. However, the link between these children and the community is not well established.
"In an alliance with Special Olympics Europe Eurasia we will create a model of inclusive approaches for children with special needs by strengthening the capacity of local authorities, health and education services in an inclusive community-based structure which includes sport programmes that promote youth participation and raise public awareness about the abilities of children with special needs in East Kazakhstan Oblast, " said Radoslaw Rzehak, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Kazakhstan at the meeting with the E Kazakhstan Akimat last week.
In East Kazakhstan, only 36% children with disabilities were integrated into general education schools, 524 were integrated in preschool education institutions and only 16 students were integrated into vocational schools.
In 2011, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia and UNICEF united their efforts to strengthen their joint commitment to uphold the rights, dignity and inclusion of children with disabilities. The collaboration is aimed at close cooperation to combat the legal, social and physical barriers that exclude children with disabilities from full participation in society. Working together in 15 countries UNICEF and Special Olympics wish to expand the geographical reach of their collaborative efforts. A top priority is to encourage governments to ratify and implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the first human rights treaty of the 21st century and the first legally binding instrument with comprehensive protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, including children.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives through the power of sport by empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to 4 million athletes in 170 countries worldwide, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and related programs. Special Olympics takes place daily, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities all over the world. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and friendship.