Complex approach to integration of people with disability into training and employment in Balvi town

Latvia

Balvu county Social Administration

Raiņa street 52, BALVI, LV-4501, LATVIA Phone: (+371) 64521998 Email: socparvalde@balvi.lv Website: http://www.balvi.lv/balvi/i.php?p=109

Governmental

Inclusion of people with disabilities is among most important range of activities for Balvu county Social Administration. And it seen in a complex. Special attention to people with disabilities is being paid since 2003 when first project in this area was implemented. Within that project 50 families with children with disabilities had possibility for individual and group sessions, psychological support with consultations. As a result a programme for further psychological support was elaborated.
Main achievements so far:
1. Research and background :
- research about Balvi town people with disabilities, their needs and social integration possibilities
- activity guidelines and functioning social rehabilitation plans elaborated, providing solving of social, psychological and other problems
- As one of the main activities in social service area in the Balvi town development programme 2007 -2010, the environmental accessibility for people with disabilities has been set up
2. Implementation:
- Since 2004 in cooperation with State Employment Agency four employment projects for people with disability implemented, in total involving 15 persons with disability.
- At the first floor of the social house apartments for people with major functional disorders have been furnished
- A vehicle adjusted to transportation of people with movement impairment with support from Swedish partners has been acquired
- A lift acquired enabling people with movement impairment to access ant floor of the building
- Day centre set up, with nurses, masseur’s, hairdresser’s and tailor’s services available there as well laundry, shower and second hand dress store room
- Since 2003 children with disability are able to receive services of physiotherapy and children masseur
- since 2004 every summer 12 children with special needs (age 7 – 15) participate in summer camp
- During summer children with disability had possibility for summer work at Social administration
- Every year before Christmas children with disabilities are invited to Christmas party at Family support centre
- Long term and cordial cooperation developed with Swedish organisation „Gnosio Hjalper”,
- Rent place for technical aids established
- regular applications to various project announcements are submitted to gain additional funding for new ideas
- At the premises of Social administration also a Balvu region association of people with disabilities have found a home.
3. Future plans:
- Renovate Social administration premises making it accessible for people with movement impairment, to provide all services are accessible
- To continue co-operation with State Employment Agency
- To elaborate and submit new project proposals to various funds aimed at social rehabilitation of people with disabilities
- To update activity plans of the newly formed county to include all inhabitants of the territory of the county

Balvi is one of handful towns in Latvia having elaborated and approved a Society integration programme. Special attention in this programme is devoted to social inclusion of people with disabilities. Programme identifies problems and main directions in solving them

Effective long term results can be achieved by focused implementation of complex activities, based on objective indicators. Those implementing the programme must be very interested in reaching the goals, as people with disabilities often tend to be very closed – it is not easy to gain their thrust by simply inviting them to participate in some project. Thrust is gained step-by-step, by patient work, proving itself with work. This has been achieved in Balvi.
Statistical indicators show that in Balvi after supported work programme implemented in co-operation with State employment agency, 45% of people with disabilities who are involved in this programme are being employed afterwards on a permanent basis in participating organisations, and another 15% with the received recommendations find a job in other organisations.

Interviews with target group people are conducted on a regular basis, to gain information about their needs and wishes in order to be able to adopt the programme, projects and gain new ideas for new projects.
As a result main problems to be solved in future are identified. But what gives the inspiration to continue the work are people saying: “… it is so important for me to be in society ....” , “…I was trapped for so many years, but now I got out of it!...”, “… I am valid for the work!”.
Another thought, that was mentioned in interviews with people with disabilities – is that it is important to earn with your work, rather than simply to receive help. This kind of opportunity raises self-esteem, allows feeling needed in the society.

One of the project participants, who is in wheelchair for many years and is staying at home, is now learning information operator skills at subsidised work place that has been created at his home. He has also become deeply interested in information technologies, has studied more deeply one of the website creation technologies and has created website of Balvu county Social Administration.

To ensure effective social inclusion of people with disabilities huge role is played by municipality and its social services. Exactly these institutions know better the needs of people with disabilities living in their territory and they can elaborate and implement complex programmes to solve problems in co-operation with other institutions and organisations.

Social inclusion, social rehabilitation, Balvi, Social Administration