By order of the President of the Russian Federation in 2009, the state program “Accessible Environment” for 2011-2015 was drawn up . The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Russia became the executors of this program. In 2014, it was extended to 2020 by order of D. A. Medvedev.
So, the state program “Accessible Environment” - what is it, what goals does it pursue, and also for whom is it intended? This article will help answer and clarify all your questions.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The number of people with disabilities is increasing every year in Russia. Therefore, on September 24, 2008, the Russian Federation signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in which various countries participated. A special committee was formed to monitor the implementation of this agreement. Initially, the committee had 12 experts, but after increasing the list of participating countries, the staff was increased to 18 experts.
The signed Convention showed the authorities' willingness to change the living conditions of people with disabilities for the better. According to the approved document, the state should ensure and facilitate life for people with disabilities during the application of objects that are used in everyday life by an ordinary person: vehicles, roads, structures and buildings, medical facilities, etc. The main objective of the Convention is to identify all obstacles and remove them .
According to sociological analysis, about 60% of people with disabilities cannot use public transport, since it is not designed for such people. About 48% cannot make purchases in the store on their own. For example, in Arkhangelsk only 13% of the facilities comply with the requirements, in the Novgorod region - only 10%, and in Kursk - about 5%.
State program for the disabled
On the basis of the Convention, the state program “Accessible Environment” for 2011-2015 was created in the Russian Federation. During the program, the authorities were obliged to create special borders for people with disabilities, provide public transport with equipment for transporting people with disabilities, install special traffic lights with an audible signal and other devices needed in the village.
The state program “Accessible Environment” for 2011-2015 was not easy to implement. Problems that hindered implementation:
- regulatory barriers;
- lack of assistance from non-profit organizations;
- lack of a specific budget for the implementation of the program;
- relational (social) barrier.
Due to the problems encountered, the program needed to change the regulatory framework in the field of creating an accessible environment.
Summary (goals and objectives) of the state program
The state program "Accessible Environment", like any other, has goals and objectives. Basic goals:
- to form access to facilities and services for people with disabilities by 2016;
- improve social health services for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities.
Objectives:
- assess the state of accessibility of key important facilities;
- improve access to vital facilities;
- equalize the rights of an ordinary citizen and citizens with disabilities;
- to modernize medical and social expertise;
- provide access to rehabilitation services.
Stages of implementation and financing
The state program “Accessible Environment” was divided into two stages. From 2011 to 2012 - the first stage for the implementation of the program. The state program "Accessible Environment" for 2013-2015 is the 2nd stage. So, today the state program for the support of persons with disabilities has already completed.
The total amount of funds allocated from the state budget is 168,437,465.6 thousand rubles.
Program nuances
Despite goals, objectives, and government funding, cities still have problems with access for people with disabilities to pharmacies, municipal institutions, medical facilities, and shops. No matter how hard officials try to remove barriers in the social life of people with disabilities, while their efforts will be only local in nature. Implementing such a large-scale program requires great efforts, as it requires a constant and longer perspective.
Due to limited funding, the state program “Accessible Environment” has been put to the forefront at airports, public transport, and railway stations. The reasons for this attitude in the transport sector are more serious problems that require a quick solution and additional financial injections. Therefore, almost all urban transport is not accessible for disabled people.
Despite the shortcomings of the program, there are some improvements. For example, special cars appeared in which there is a two-seater coupe. These compartments are designed for people who use a wheelchair. But even such an improvement cannot save a person from problems: very high steps, inconvenient location of handrails, and so on.
How is the program implemented
In cities, for comfortable movement along the pedestrian crossing, traffic lights with an audible signal were installed. This is done in those places where a large number of blind people live.
Also, the metro was equipped for the disabled. A signaling notification of the arrival of the train to the apron and sound announcement of stops was established, and the edges of the aprons were specially reconstructed.
In certain areas of the capital, about twenty apartments were built for people with serious health problems. These apartments have been specially designed for people who use wheelchairs. Housing is equipped with wide doorways, as well as a special toilet and bath.
In the city of Ulan-Ude, a residential complex for such people was built. The complex includes not only apartments, but also manufacturing enterprises, shops and a gym. Many people with disabilities dream of such conditions.
State program "Accessible environment" for children with disabilities
In Russia, 1.5 million disabled children. About 90% of these children study in a boarding school, and 10% cannot study because of a health problem. An attempt by the authorities to educate children with disabilities in regular schools has failed. Therefore, another strategy was developed to implement the program.
Thirty public schools created a barrier-free educational environment in Tambov. A special training program has been developed in such schools, for which the state allocates about 12 million rubles each year. All funding is directed to the purchase of special equipment. The local budget allocates money for the repair and reconstruction of such schools for children with disabilities. The authorities intend not to stop and increase the number of such schools.
The state program "Accessible Environment" for children with disabilities conducts special training for speech therapists, sign teachers, and also trains the department of oligophrenopedagogy. All this helps to involve as many disabled children as possible in the social environment.
Information advertising: state program “Accessible Environment”
As part of the program, information campaigns were created that lasted until 2015. Advertising was carried out using the Internet, radio, via television, and outdoor advertising was also used. Ad topics were monitored by people with disabilities who were part of the coordination council. The company included representatives of the PR service of the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation, representatives of the All-Russian Society of the Blind and Deaf.
In 2011, the campaign was dedicated to the employment of people with disabilities. Information advertising encouraged employers to think that people with disabilities are also people. And they are able to perform certain types of work.
In 2012, the program was aimed at children with disabilities. In 2013, the Paralympic Winter Games were held, where the champions of the Russian Federation were attracted. In 2014, the program campaign was dedicated to families in which one family member is disabled.
Extension of the program until 2020
The state program “Accessible Environment” was extended until 2020. This was necessary in order to carry out voluminous work on the adaptation of all problem areas for the disabled. The number of such objects is very large.
Promising measures are spelled out in the extended program; updates are also inherent in the new project. Main goals:
- conducting special training for teachers, which will allow for the training of children with disabilities;
- work according to the professional standard of a tutor;
- conducting research on the characteristics of persons with disabilities;
- services for the support of persons with disabilities in resolving employment issues, taking into account disruption of the body;
- development of special programs for rehabilitation;
- creating a mechanism that will monitor the effectiveness of the prescribed rehabilitation treatment.
Despite the well-defined tasks, large financial investments are required to complete it. During the economic crisis, regions even close programs that have been financed by budget funds. About nine regions did not provide programs to the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation.
Expected results of the extended state program
The state program “Accessible Environment” for 2011-2020 should completely change the situation in relation to people with disabilities and adapt them in society, which, of course, is ideal. In practice, everything is not so rosy. Now it’s still difficult for people with disabilities to coexist fully in society, to make purchases on their own, move around the city, find a job, and so on. Perhaps the extension of the program will bring more positive results. The expected results at the end of the extended state program are as follows:
- equipping infrastructure facilities with barrier-free access up to 68.2%;
- providing the necessary medical equipment to hospitals and rehabilitation centers up to 100%;
- providing jobs for disabled people of working age;
- an increase in the number of people who will be able to undergo rehabilitation;
- increase in the number of specialists who can deal with rehabilitation.
Despite a number of problems and shortcomings, the state program of the Russian Federation “Accessible Environment” is a serious step to improve life in the society of people with disabilities.