According to the World Health Organization, the number of people with disabilities in the world is increasing every year. According to 2017 data, in the world 23% of the population are people with disabilities. This is more than 1 billion people. In Russia, 9.3% of the population are disabled people of different groups. In 2015, 12 million Russians have a disability group. For example, in Finland, the highest percentage of people with disabilities is 32.2%. The highest rate among European countries. This is a worldwide problem.
It is important for the state and commercial organizations to understand this problem and propose solutions. To help people with disabilities and do everything so that they live a full life. In my opinion, not only authorities and organizations need to realize the full significance of the problem. All citizens of the country, the world should understand that you can not get around this problem and be indifferent to people who are less fortunate than us. In words, everything can be done right away, reinforced by deed. But as? Everything is simple!
The world community is guided by the UN General Assembly Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In our country in 2015, the Government of the Russian Federation approved the program "Accessible Environment" for 2011 - 2020. Under this program, the ministries of the Russian Federation, Federal agencies are obliged to facilitate, help integrate into an active social life and protect the rights of people with disabilities. All this concerns state protection.
Business, in turn, should focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Work with sedentary groups of the population for business is one of the priority areas. Commercial organizations actively help people with disabilities to lead an active social life. Disabled people take part in events of regional, federal and global significance.
An interesting direction is sports, for example, the Paralympic Games. Every 4 years, the whole world watches how strong, strong-willed people from all over the world participate in sports competitions and take home medals of various denominations. This applies to international experience. What about disabled people who are attracted to sports, but not at the global level? In my opinion, this should be done not only by the government of the country, but also by commercial organizations. In particular, those who produce sports equipment and provide sports services. This can be called the Affordable Sports Environment program.
Today I want to talk about extreme sports. Namely, about rafting, rafting on rivers and canals and boat trips for people with disabilities. For reference: rafting is a sports rafting on mountain rivers and artificial rowing canals on 6-, 4- and 2-seater inflatable vessels (rafts). The very first rafting competition was held in the Republic of Bashkiria in 2012. “The All-Russian Touriad“ Yuryuzan-2012 ”was aimed at popularizing rafting for the disabled with damage to the musculoskeletal system. The event was organized by the All-Russian Society of Disabled People, the Russian Sports Union of the Disabled with the support of state and municipal authorities. An interesting observation is the use of special equipment. Boats, rafts, kayaks specifically for people with disabilities.
Special equipment and tourist camps are a direct indicator of creating an accessible sports environment for the disabled. Throughout the country, there are various organizations and rafting bases that practice working with people with disabilities. Bases in Crimea, Sochi, the Leningrad region already provide the opportunity to rafting. Now one of such bases in Losevo, Leningrad Region, together with the Russian Association of Rafting, is developing standards for the training of guides and instructors who will work with sedentary groups. “The most important thing in working with people with disabilities is an individual approach! We are visited not only by adults, but by organized groups of children. In this case, one more requirement for guides is added - teacher education, ”the manager of the base commented. In addition to staff training, special equipment is important. Namely, comfortable seats for people with problems of the musculoskeletal system. St. Petersburg company developed a special seat in the boat. The seat was made according to individual parameters. This fact only confirms the words of Yegor Polyansky about an individual approach. And this is only the beginning of development and work in this direction.
A living example is Igor Skikevich. On September 22, 2017, in Anapa, Igor started his journey around the world in a wheelchair “The Way of the World”. The world tour will end on April 12, 2020 on the island of New Guinea. Igor goes all the way in a boat designed specifically for him by a Russian company. This is an example of love of life, activity and the desire to follow your dream! And the task of the state and business is to actively support the aspirations of such heroic personalities!
An affordable sports environment is not only a state program! Providing an accessible environment is a priority!