A three-day work of the international scientific-practical conference "Current issues of a development of the system of provision of educational, social, medical, habilitation/rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities" started on Wednesday, September 23, in Uzhhorod with a plenary session.

The professional discussion was opened by Volodymyr Smolanka, rector of Uzhhorod National University, Olha Travina, deputy Head of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration, Mykola Kuleba, Commissioner for Children's Rights of the President of Ukraine, Roman Pylypenko, head of the Section of Rehabilitation Services and Employment of Persons with Disabilities of the Department of Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities of the Ministry of Social Policy, and Nataliya Kabatsiy, director of Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia".

"The issues that formed the basis of the conference were important at all times. Now, this urgency is reinforced by the active phase of reforming the health care system, rehabilitation system, care, and assistance to children with disabilities. I am confident that the conference will be a great platform for exchanging views and experiences, especially given the professional level of participants and the geography of stakeholders," – Volodymyr Smolanka said.

Mykola Kuleba, Commissioner for Children's Rights of the President of Ukraine, thanked the organizers of the event for the fact that even in the conditions of a pandemic and related challenges, we continue to move forward for the realization of the rights of every person with disabilities, special educational needs, especially children.

"It encourages in our everyday work. I would like to address the issue of deinstitutionalization reform. It is a question of abandoning the old Soviet system of institutional care for children and moving to a system of supporting the family and the child in the family, providing them with the necessary educational, medical, and social services. It is very important to me that during the conference your professional audience will discuss the development of these services. It is gratifying that the number of children covered by inclusive education in the Zakarpattia region has doubled during last year,” – Mykola Kuleba stressed.

Olha Travina, Deputy Head of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration, stated that there are many challenges in the implementation of the deinstitutionalization process in the region, which can be addressed by such expert discussions with further development of relevant recommendations. According to the official, currently, there are 30 institutional care establishments in the region, which house 4.5 thousand children. "Such statistics encourage us to work more productively and do everything possible for Zakarpattia to show a worthy example of DI-reform," – added Olha Travina.

"We have never talked about the social sphere as much as we do now. We raise all the issues that have affected people in difficult life circumstances. I want state structures and civil society institutions to cooperate constructively. This will be the key to the right decisions that can be implemented at the central and local levels," – Roman Pylypenko said.

"This is the fifth time we have organized such a conference. The first three times we held an event at the Parasolka Centre, which is an example of successful deinstitutionalization as part of the reform of boarding schools for people with disabilities. Earlier we emphasized the practical component of the conference. Since the cooperation with Uzhhorod National University led to the training of special educators, occupational therapists, and physical therapists in the university, the conference's format was expanded to the level of scientific and practical discussion… It cannot help but rejoice, " – noticed Nataliya Kabatsiy.

She also highlighted the continued importance of deinstitutionalization reform, which includes, inter alia, the development of social and rehabilitation services in the region. “This is a recipe, no need to invent, it is already an effective preventive mechanism in preventing the old system of closing eyes to problems,” – summed up the director of the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia.

On the first day of the conference, scientific reports were presented by domestic experts and their colleagues from the Netherlands, Uzbekistan, Slovakia, and Switzerland. It was about the education system in the field of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and special pedagogy, a systematic approach to accompanying a family with a child with a disability, the creation of new models of care in Ukraine and abroad.

This year, more than one and a half hundred interested people from all regions of Ukraine and more than ten countries applied for participation in the scientific and practical event. It is possible to follow the broadcast of the section discussions on the YouTube channel of the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia and the Committee's Facebook page. On Thursday, September 24, the work of the sections will begin at 9.00 and last until 17.30. Follow the link to see the program of the event.