2000 (June and August)
Health improving and rehabilitation: June – a two-day tent camp (7 persons) on the shore of Kaliningrad (Vistula) Bay near German knights’ castle Balga. August – a three-day tent camp (8 persons) on the bank of Pravdinsk water storage reservoir of Lave river. August – sailing yachts (9 persons) on Kaliningrad (Vistula) Bay.
Result: young people with severe disability forms learnt on their own to arrange and conduct health-improving country trips. The most of participants for the first time got in the field environment. They were forced to distribute all internal camp and other duties among themselves and do them on their own. The joint overcoming of difficulties and unusual ‘extreme’ environment made the guys unite into a friendly team.
2001 (August to December)
accessible milieu: Adjustment of the urban infrastructure object to the needs of wheelchair disabled persons.
Result: reconstructed front porch (enlarged doorway, installed wide double entrance door) and built ramp (angled surface restricted by railing) at the Kaliningrad municipal center of young disabled persons ( 165, Alleya Smelykh). The visitors of the Center who move on wheelchairs got the opportunity to use the services provided and participate in its work. All performed improvements of the Center building were transferred to the municipality free of charge.
2001 (June and September)
development of personal potential: Increase of activity of young disabled people and involvement of them into public life.
Result: organized and carried out two one-day seminars “Public organizations as an efficient instrument to express the civil activity” (June) and “Activities of public organizations of disabled persons in modern Russia” (September). The seminar participants (27 persons) got idea of the mechanisms to realize public interests by citizens’ associations. The hearers got to know about the methods to exercise public control and effective interaction with authorities and business in order to solve the acutest and most socially important problems. The young people got acquainted with the whole variety of organizations, companies and structures that work in favor of disabled people as well as with the most striking and promising action strategies allowing successfully to carry out the activities planned.
2001 (July)
Health improving and rehabilitation: a three-day trip to ‘Mokhovoye’ forestry (near Slavsk town).
Result: the action was conducted on the basis of a private ecology center. 9 young people with various disability forms visited a picturesque place of Kaliningrad region, got to know about history of that area, got familiarized with the rural way of life of local inhabitants and saw a unique of plant and animal life of that place.
2001 – 2002
Information and education: Placing materials of reference and problem nature in the regional mass media to cover various sides of life of disabled people, rich potential of abilities and variety of their interests.
Result: More materials of positive nature about/for disabled persons appeared in the regional mass media. On results of that work, the Kaliningrad Apparel was recognized as a winner of the All-Russian contest carried out by the BBC information agency (BBC), “Mass media and public organizations: a bridge over the precipice”, for the best coverage of subject of social nature by mass media.
2002 (May)
International cooperation A group of young Kaliningraders having various disability forms visited the traditional “May week of disabled persons” that takes place annually in Polish city of Elblong. Result: six Russian young disabled people became participants of events of “May week of disabled persons”, each day of which covers a certain subject (meeting with administrations, sports competitions, creative masterclasses, open-air article exhibitions, stage creation, procession to the city hall and handing of petitions to the city authorities). The young Russians got acquainted with Polish experience in involving disabled persons into every-day urban life, saw the efficiency of applied methods, visited various organizations that help disabled persons, got to know about history and modern life of Polish Elblong.
2002 (October/November)
International cooperation: Polish-Russian painting and photography open-air.
Result: implemented partner transboundary project in cooperation with the Elblong Consulting Council of Disabled Persons (ERKON). A two-week integration open-air was conducted in the picturesque resort town of Krynitsa-Morska (Poland). 16 Russian and 16 Polish young people with various disability forms did creative works within their powers (painting, modeling, photography) and achieved a good rehabilitation effect. Masterclasses familiarized the participants with various creation techniques. The guys took a complex of physiotherapeutic procedures. A final city exhibition of works and articles of the open-air participants took place in Polish Elblong.
2003
Information and education: Project “The point of social optimism”.
Result: carried out a series of seminars for more than 60 teenagers (14 to 18 years of age), disabled and not. The participants got to now about regional, All-Russian and international projects and programs. The teenagers got familiarized with activities of youth organizations of different property forms and various activity lines. The guys saw the opportunities of their cooperation and participation in such projects, programs and organizations.
2003
Information and education: Help to those who communicate with handicapped people.
Result: a manual issued covering etiquette and correct terminology in regard to disabled people. This brochure was the first publication on that subject in Kaliningrad region. The issue was replicated in 1000 copies. The manual was free of charge distributed among more than 300 addressees (administrative structures, mass medias, social organizations) of Kaliningrad region.
2003
Information and education: Legal support of disabled children and their families.
Result: Legal booklet “Preferences for families having disabled children” was issued in 1000 copies. The publication contains a short description of basic preferences and advantages that may be used by both disabled children and their families. That booklet was the first publication on that subject in Kaliningrad region. The booklet was free of charge distributed (by sending by post) to home addresses of families having disabled children.
2003
Information and education: «Bureau of active rehabilitation».
Result: gathered, analyzed and structured information about organizations of Kaliningrad region that render various services to disabled people. Created electronic list of such organizations “To disabled people of Kaliningrad region”. The gathered materials were used to render free informational and consulting services to disabled people of the region.
2003 (September to December)
Development of personal potential: “Information is the way to active independent life of young disabled persons”.
Result: Seminars for 40 disabled young people and teenagers (14 to 28 years old) were held in cooperation with the regional population employment service. The participants elaborated promising schemes of strategies and actions on obtaining professions and further employment. Manual “What is useful to know to the working disabled youth” was issued. It was published in 3000 copies. The manual was free of charge distributed among social, educational and other organizations of Kaliningrad region.
2004 (June)
International cooperation: “Kaliningrad disabled teenagers – participants of International Integration Festival “Poznan-2004: Children to Children”.
Result: eight Kaliningrad disabled teenagers (14 to 18 years old) took part in the International Integration Festival (Poznan, Republic of Poland). The guys demonstrated their talents and expanded the Russian participation in the cultural life of Baltic Region. The teenagers met their coevals (disabled schoolchildren) from 14 European countries and got familiarized with culture, traditions as well as rights of disabled people, examples of treatment, training and rehabilitation.
2004
Information and education: «Informational support of disabled teenagers».
Result: Legal information manual “To disabled teenagers” was issued. The publication was replicated in 2000 copies. The manual contained reference materials on administrative structures working with youth; contact details of employees of the youth sector of municipalities; structures on work with youth of educational institutions; children’ and youth public associations; youth divisions of political parties; some aspects of education; secondary and higher professional institutions; some medical aspects of admission to study; employment; rights and preferences of disabled teenagers and their families; contact details of the medical & social examination service. That manual was the first publication on that subject in Kaliningrad region. The manual was free of charge distributed (by addressed post delivery) to home addresses of disabled teenagers and youth as well as various organizations of Kaliningrad region.
2004
Information and education: Creation of series of legal reference booklets for disabled inhabitants of Kaliningrad region.
Result: Three legal booklets “Preferences for disabled persons of 1st, 2nd and 3rd groups” were published and distributed. Each of the booklets was issued in 2000 copies. Those booklets were the first publications on that subject in Kaliningrad region. The booklets were distributed among social institutions of the region as well as sent by post to home addresses of disabled people.
2004 (December)
Creation of infrastructure for disabled people: “Regional specialized newspaper for disabled people”.
Result: A new regional mass medium, newspaper “Apparel-Info Kaliningrad”, was created and registered according to the procedure established by law. The goal of the newspaper is providing disabled citizens with information on: social organizations services, useful laws, examples of way out of hard life situations, activities of disabled people from other regions of Russia and foreign countries. The newspaper is free. The distribution area is Kaliningrad region. This newspaper is the first specialized regional printed mass medium for disabled people in Kaliningrad region.
2004 – 2005
Increase of legal competence: “Legal advices to young disabled people”.
Result: More than 300 young disabled people and their family members got free legal advices, legal support and protection of their legal interests.
2005 (April)
Development of personal potential: «Outdoor four-day training seminar for blind and weak-sighted youth».
Result: participants of the seminar became 20 young people with serious sight pathologies from 7 towns of the region. During 4 days, they were trained and educated (elaboration of constructive communication skills, interpersonal interaction, methods for asserting their rights). The four-day training seminar was held in the interactive form on the basis of Svetlogorsk boarding house. As trainers acted psychologists, rehabilitation specialists and blind persons who achieved a success in life. Brochure “Near a blind person” was issued. Published in 500 copies. The main subjects: terminology and etiquette, sight peculiarities of sight disabled persons, household arrangement, help from relatives, leisure of the blind, learn to understand, basics of independent orientation, accessible milieu, modern rehabilitation facilities.
2005 (June)
Information and education: Issue of an advance copy of newspaper “Apparel-Info Kaliningrad”.
Result: Materials on various subjects were selected. Invitation to the regional picture contest in honor of the 750th anniversary of Kaliningrad (Königsberg) and the 60th anniversary of Kaliningrad region. Youth meetings at Polish international center «Ñemp Rodovo»: business games, prospects of international partnership, familiarization with the work of Polish youth organizations. Specialized training seminar for weak-sighted and blind youth. Petersburg seminar «European Convention on human rights protection and European court on human rights»: constitutional, social and civil rights. Even a young disabled Russian can see the world by becoming a volunteer and working in one of European countries. The entire newspaper issue (1500 copies) was free of charge distributed in the area of Kaliningrad region, including by the way of addresses post sending to social institutions and to home addresses of disabled persons.
2005 (August)
Development of personal potential: Training seminar “Through activity to self-supporting life”.
Result: Twenty young disabled people of 18 to 22 years of age took part in discussions and play events, did interactive exercises and listened to lectures. Subjects: “Self-support: myths and reality”, “Information in the modern world”, “Self-actualization and life choice”.
2005 (June to October)
Rehabilitation through creation: Regional contest of creative works of disabled artists in honor of the 750th anniversary of Kaliningrad (Königsberg) and the 60th anniversary of Kaliningrad region.
Result: about 50 region inhabitants with severe disability forms presented their works performed in different techniques. A color booklet with the best participants works was issued on results of contest “With optimism into the future”. The entire booklet issue (1000 copies) was free of charge distributed in the whole area of Kaliningrad region, including by the way of addresses post sending to social institutions and to home addresses of disabled persons.
2005 (October)
Information and education: ¹1 issue of newspaper “Apparel-Info Kaliningrad”.
Result: Materials on various subjects were selected. Marathon – concord of wheelchair disabled persons of Russian and Belorussia. Regional fishing sport competitions among disabled persons. Training seminar “Through activity to self-supporting life”. Exhibition of Polish disabled artists painting without hands at the Consulate General of Poland in Kaliningrad. Employment through the employment service. The Novosibirsk Institute of Social Rehabilitation enrolls wheelchair disabled students. Hippotherapy from eyewitness. Become a volunteer and see the world. Free billiard lessons for Kaliningrad disabled people. The entire newspaper issue (2000 copies) was free of charge distributed in the area of Kaliningrad region, including by the way of addresses post sending to social institutions and to home addresses of disabled persons.
2005 (November)
Development of personal potential: Employment and enterprise opportunities for disabled persons.
Result: A seminar that took place in Svetly town gathered 22 young people. The participants got acquaintd with different examples and ways of self-actualization of disabled people including those having severe disability forms. The hearers got to know how to open own business and what steps to do for successful employment.
2005
Information and education: Improvement of situation of disabled people and families having disabled children by increasing their legal competence.
Result: a series of 6 legal information booklets was issued. The issues explained the main provisions of the inheritance law, public fee as well as contained materials about the rights of disabled persons of 1st, 2nd and 3rd groups and families with disabled children. The total issue of booklets was 9,000 copies. The booklets were free of charge distributed by addresses post sending to home addresses and different social institutions of Kaliningrad region.
2005
Health improving and rehabilitation: Disabled youth travels around home country.
Result: A one-day excursion was carried out around anniversary places of Kaliningrad. The participants of the excursion became 44 young disabled persons from 13 distant towns and places of Kaliningrad region. The young disabled people, who only can watch the changes in the regional center’s architectural image changes, could with their own eyes see the restored and repaired historical and cultural objects of Kaliningrad, get to know about their history and visit them.
2005 (December)
Information and education: No.2 issue of newspaper “Apparel-Info Kaliningrad”.
Result: Materials on different subjects were selected. Work of the public employment services with disabled persons in the year 2005. A round table at the Kaliningrad center for social help to families and children on the subject “Social rights and preferences of families having disabled children’. A seminar in Svetly town on disabled people’e employment and enterprise. Young disabled people from distant districts of the region visited anniversary places of the regional center. Where to get free go-carts for disabled people of 1st and 2nd groups. Experience of the USA in disabled people’s employment. disabled people’s employment in Moscow. A British charitable foundation helps in treatment of children with severe diseases. The entire newspaper issue (2,000 copies) was free of charge distributed in the area of Kaliningrad region, including by addresses post sending to social institutions and home addresses of disabled persons.
2006 (January)
Help in rehabilitation: Accompanying young blind Kaliningrader Alexey S. to the blind people rehabilitation center by Moscow.
Result: Thanks to his coeval (an activist of the Kaliningrad Apparel), Alexey successfully overcame the one-and-a-half-day way and started his three-month rehabilitation course in time. His attendant, acting also as his personal helper, obtained experience in interaction with blind people, saw in practice the obstacles that everywhere occur for sight disabled people, and cases of incorrect attitude to such people.
2006 (February)
International cooperation: Young Kaliningraders in international youth project “PoLiBelKa”.
Result: In cooperation with partner youth organizations from Poland, Lithuania and Belorussia, a one-week meeting of young people from European countries situated along the stream of Neman river was held in Lithuanian town of Druskininkai. The event attracted about 40 guys from all social groups and with various interests. Six young disabled Kaliningraders together with their foreign coevals discussed the most important uniting matters of youth life in the post-Soviet area, shared their experience in implementation of youth initiatives, outlined specific lines of their future joint projects oriented at socialization of the growing up generation of their countries. The project site: www.polibelka.org
2006 (April)
Health improving and rehabilitation: Health-improving ad cognitive excursion for Kaliningrad disabled senior schoolchildren.
Result: 40 Kaliningrad disabled senior schoolchildren made a bus trip to Baltiysk town. The guys got to know about history of the westernmost town of Russia from ancient times to present day, got familiarized with pre-war architecture, felt the coziness of old streets, and breathed fresh sea air.
2006 (May)
Information and education: No.3 issue of newspaper “Apparel-Info Kaliningrad”.
Result: Materials on various subjects were selected. “PoLiBelKa-2006” united the European youth. How Polish public organizations work in towns of Goldap, Oleck, Ostruda. Contact details of medical & social expert commissions of Kaliningrad region. The rules for recognizing a person as disabled. The events plan of the Kaliningrad “Sports club for disabled persons” for the year 2006. A deaf Austrian student girl of the Pedagogic Academy convinced the Education Ministry of her fitness to work as a teacher. An announcement about free distribution of legal information booklets among disabled people. The entire newspaper issue (1,500 copies) was free of charge distributed in the area of Kaliningrad region, including by addresses post sending to social institutions and home addresses of disabled persons.
2006 (June)
International cooperation: A ten-day active rehabilitation course for wheelchair disabled people.
Result: Three Apparel members took an intensive active rehabilitation course for wheelchair disabled people in Lithuanian town of Mariampol. The action was organized in cooperation with Lithuanian “Union of people with ailment”. Russian participants obtained skills in operating an active-type wheelchair, for familiarized with modern appliances that lighten wheelchair disabled people’s life, and became participants in special sports
2006 (June)
Development of personal potential: Summer school for young disabled persons.
Result: Two young Kaliningraders (a 18 years old boy and 17 years old girl) took part in a 5-day Moscow “Summer school for young disabled persons”. The representatives of the “amber territory” took an intensive course of seminar lessons and discussions on subjects: “Accessible education”, “Independent life of disabled people”, “How to assert one’s rights and help others in doing that”, “Methods of giving lessons to schoolchildren to understand disability” and others. Young activists got familiarized with advanced foreign experience in asserting one’s rights and interests, got to know how to improve the efficiency of social work and change the public opinion with regard to disabled people and their organizations.
2006 (June)
Health improving and rehabilitation: Hippotherapy for disabled youth.
Result: A 3-day hippotherapy course was organized and carried out for 10 young people with various disability forms. The event took place in the surroundings of Chernyakhovsk town. All the participants for the first time rode horses and very much enjoyed their curative riding sessions and communication with the great beautiful animals.
2006 (August to December)
Promoting the disabled people’s interests: Participation in the work of the regional youth government.
Result: A 19 years old activist of the Kaliningrad Apparel was sent to the new structure in order to represent interests of disabled young people. In the youth government he is a young alternate of acting regional minister for social development and labor G.S.Yankovskaya. His main task is to report daily problems of youth to the superior regional officials and present proposals on improving actions/programs planned and already implemented.
2006 (August)
Health improving and rehabilitation: Summer country camp “We do everything by ourselves”.
Result: 10 young disabled people, by taking part in the 6-day country camp, obtained skills in self-servicing and working in team, visited a stable and got to now about existing horse breeds and care of horses.
2006 (September)
Development of personal potential: Participation in the work of the Youth Parliament Assembly of the 4th convocation.
Result: A 17 years old activist girl of the Kaliningrad Apparel represents interests of disabled young people at the youth deliberate and advisory body acting at the regional Duma. The main object of the Apparel girl is obtaining skills in promoting the most important youth problems, lobbying amendments to acts passed by the Duma, and getting familiarized with the basics of parliamentarism and oratorical art.
2006 (September)
Promoting the disabled people’s interests: Participation in European conference “Securing the social rights” (Moscow).
Result: Two Apparel members, by actively taking part in the conference work, initiated to introduce proposals to its final resolution about the necessity of a permanent external independent examination of fulfillment of social obligations by each member country of the European Council. The high status of the conference organizers (RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs and RF Ministry of Regional Development in association with the European Council in the context of Russia’s chairmanship at the European Council Cabinet) allows to hope that the initiatives of the Kaliningrad participants will not go unnoticed and the situation with securing the social rights in Russia will become better.
2006 (September)
Promoting the disabled people’s interests: Participation in round table “Barrier-free urban milieu for disabled people” (Kaliningrad, organizer – newspaper “Kaskad”.
Result: Two Apparel members demonstrated by simple and understandable examples to the participants a direct dependency between the accessibility of buildings and facilities, transport and information for a life success and opportunity for self-actualization of people with health disorders.
2006 (October)
International cooperation: Friendly visit to Polish colleagues.
Result: During 3 days staying in Polish town of Morongo, a range of meetings took place with several public organizations rendering various services to disabled people. A mutual interest and working spirit allowed to exchange work experience and ideas about possible lines of the future joint international projects. An agreement of cooperation on rehabilitation of young disabled people was signed with local public organization “Oak Hill”.
2006 (November)
Information and education: Rights and opportunities of families with disabled children.
Result: A mass post sending to home addresses of families having disabled schoolchildren was organized and carried out. In total, 290 such families residing in different districts of Kaliningrad region received printed materials of legal reference nature free of charge.
2006 (November)
Promoting the disabled people’s interests: Introducing proposals to a project of regional purpose program “Development of the population social protection system and improvement of labor relations”.
Result: On 7th November, in the sitting of the regional government, a 19 years old Apparel member (the “minister” of the youth government) made two principal proposals to the project considered, that were supported by the governor. It was decided that action performers should not be appointed by the Ministry of social policy and labor, but determined by competition. The same changes applied to section “Development of the system of complex rehabilitation, adaptation and integration of disabled people into society”. The proposals introduced will allow a wider number of organizations on more democratic principles to take part in events of the above said program and, finally, improve the efficiency and quality of services rendered.
2006 (November)
Information and education: “The state rehabilitation program is a tool to improve the life situation”.
Result: Legal reference manual “What is useful to know about the individual rehabilitation program” was issued. The brochure was published in 1,000 copies. That manual was the first issue on that subject in Kaliningrad region. The manual was free of charge distributed among social institutions of the region and to home addresses of disabled young people.
2006 (December)
Information and education: Double issue No.4-5 of newspaper “Apparel-Info Kaliningrad’.
Result: Materials on various subjects were selected. The seventh birthday of the Kaliningrad Apparel and some results of work for the year 2006. Early pension for parents of disabled children. Mobile connection for the deaf. Social lawyers of Arkhangelsk region. The Russian Army regulations prohibit to use weapons towards disabled people. An individual rehabilitation program. A woman in Chicago got a robot-arm sewed to her. A Petersburg team of prosthesis disabled persons invite to join their team. An announcement about free distribution of brochure “What is useful to know about the individual rehabilitation program” among disabled people. The entire newspaper issue (2,000 copies) was free of charge distributed in the area of Kaliningrad region, including by addresses post sending to social institutions and home addresses of disabled persons.
2006 (December)
Health improving and rehabilitation: A two-day trip out of town to the sea.
Result: The participants of the trip became 20 young people with various disability forms. The guys undertook several walks along the sea surf edge, communicated in plenty and became friends. The participants admired the scenery of storm sea and town views from the 9th floor of the Zelenogradsk boarding house, and from a narrative of an employee of the regional studies department of the local library they got to know about history of that resort town from ancient times to present day.
2007 (January to March)
Development of personal potential: Interactive trainings for disabled teenagers.
Result: A cycle of training seminars for senior pupils of the specialized weak-sighted school was carried out. 10 sight handicapped teenagers improved their communicative skills, got imbued with optimism and disposed themselves to the life success.
2007 (June)
Health improving and rehabilitation: Country tent camp for disabled young people.
Result: A 6-day integration tent camp was arranged and carried out in the outskirts of Mayakovskoye village (on the bank of Angrapa river, near Gusev town). The camp participants became twenty young people, both disabled and not.
2007 (July)
Promoting the disabled people’s interests: International marathon of wheelchair disabled persons “Concord”.
Result: The marathon participants became two young representatives of Kaliningrad region. The Central (Moscow) board of Apparel, that organized the marathon, involved to participation inhabitants of different regions of Russia as well as representatives of partner organizations of disabled people from Belorussia, Moldavia and Ukraine. The marathon racers overcame more than 2,000 kilometers (from Moscow to Odessa). In towns situated on the way of passing of the bus column, the participants met people supported by social institutions and activists of organizations of disabled people, gave interview to journalists and talked to priests, visited historical and cultural places. The marathon became an evidence of endurance and active life position of the modern young generation and an appeal to pay attention and give help to handicapped young people.
2007 (August)
Information and education: No.6 issue of newspaper “Apparel-Info Kaliningrad”.
Result: Materials on various subjects were selected. International marathon for wheelchair disabled persons Moscow – Odessa. Governor G.V.Boos’ reception of youth activists. Meetings of friends and supporters of Apparel on the summer fire ground. Addressed post sending as a real informational help to distant area inhabitants. Interactive lessons for weak-sighted and blind teenagers. Lessons of “disability understanding” for senior pupils and students of usual institutions of general education. A two-day recreation at the sea. A 17 year old girl, activist and delegate of Apparel, about young parliamentarian and youth parliament assembly. Regional Provision about school classes of integrated education. Distance education of disabled schoolchildren. Dance therapy. Getting a travel passport became accessible and convenient even for wheelchair disabled persons. Special Russia’s Olympiad for mentally handicapped youth. Eurasia Cup 2007 in wheelchair sport dancing took place in the city on Neva. No entrance for the crippled! – A wheelchair girl was not permitted into a nightclub. Moscow exhibition of posters “People like people, only with Down’s syndrome. The attorney’s office will clear parking places for disabled people’s cars. Deputies passed an act to guarantee jobs to disabled persons. Announcement about the international contest to get award “Philanthropist”. Routes for disabled people appeared in Slovak Tatra Mountains. Announcement about demonstration of short films on disability understanding. The entire newspaper issue (2,000 copies) was free of charge distributed in the area of Kaliningrad region, including by addresses post sending to social institutions and home addresses of disabled persons.
2007 (August)
Health improving and rehabilitation: In tents at the very surf edge.
Result: 14 young disabled people were involved into summer health-improving recreation. An outdoor tent camp took place near Pionerskiy town on a green glade in the pinery at the Baltic Sea coast. Handicapped girls and boys adapted themselves to camping life conditions that were unusual for them, distributed and fulfilled uncomplicated household duties. All together, with jolly jokes and young ardor, they occupied themselves with preparing firewood and fire maintenance, cooking and acting as persons on duty. Heat and unusually warm sea, caressing summer rains and beautiful landscapes of Baltic nature united the young people in friendship.
2007 (March to December)
Information and education: Lessons in disability “understanding” were given to students and senior pupils of institutions of general education.
Result: 23 lessons were carried out in which more than 450 senior pupils and students as well as their teachers took part. Geography of conducted lessons – the whole area of “Amber territory” (from Baltiysk to Sovetsk). Apparel members having disability of different forms and severity grades acted as presenters of those educational events. The hearers got to know about different sides of life of handicapped persons and got acquainted with problems they face everyday. Short films presented a rich personal potential of such people and variety of their interests. Discussions and exchange of opinions touched upon the subjects of a healthy style of life and risk-free behavior; joint education of young people both disabled and not; accessibility of urban architecture for disabled people; importance of an open, equal and fair attitude towards all members of society.
2007 (May to September)
Recreation and rehabilitation: Monthly summer meetings of disabled young people.
Result: Conduct of regular (monthly) meetings of activists, employees, friends and supporters of Apparel as well as new young people both disabled and not on an open floor near the organization office. Informal communication of coevals, not restricted with preset frameworks and certain subjects, allowed the young people to get to know each other better, made new acquaintances and find like-minded persons. The ‘experienced Apparel members’ told the newcomers about their impressions from taking part in events hold and invited them to cooperation.
2007 (November)
Promoting the disabled people’s interests: Accessible milieu in pictures and schemes.
Result: Manual “Accessible to everybody” was issued. The manual presented modern and practical ways to create an accessible urban milieu and how to adjust (reconstruct) existing objects for low-mobile population groups. The issue contributed to creating the environment for successful implementation of the laws in force in the field of securing an accessible social infrastructure. The manual doesn’t contain any special terms or hardly understandable schemes. Written in simple language and supplemented with pictures, the manual was meant for both specialists and a wide circle of readers interested in the subjects of comfortable conditions of existence of low-mobile population groups. It demonstrates simple and low-cost methods to adjust buildings and facilities, transport and information sources for the needs and demands of handicapped people. That brochure was the first issue on a similar subject in Kaliningrad region. The entire manual issue (1,000 copies) was free of charge distributed in the area of Kaliningrad region, including by addresses post sending to social institutions and home addresses of people seriously handicapped in motion.
2007 (December)
Information and education: No.7 issue of newspaper “Apparel-Info Kaliningrad”.
Result: Materials on various subjects were selected. Summer health-improving recreation for disabled young people. Actions of the Kaliningrad Apparel in the 2nd half year of 2007. visiting Swedish youth. Regional minister of social policy and labor G.S.Yankovskaya about the work of the Kaliningrad Apparel. The federal list of rehabilitation actions, technical means of rehabilitation and services provided to disabled people free of charge. Procedure for getting technical means of rehabilitation. Decree by the Kaliningrad Region Government about “Social taxi” service and procedure of free services provided by it to disabled people. Contact details of public institutions of population social service that provide “Social taxi” services. Electronic educational courses appeared in Russia. Russian foundation “Child’s look” conducts children’s art contest “My family”. Following in the footsteps of Jules Vern’s heroes: four Englishmen with severe disability forms repeat the adventures of Jules Verne’s heroes of “Around the world in 80 days”. American experience – unrestricted accessibility. Announcement about free distribution of reference manual “Accessible to everybody” among people handicapped in motion. The entire newspaper issue (2,000 copies) was free of charge distributed in the area of Kaliningrad region, including by addresses post sending to social institutions and home addresses of disabled persons.
2007 (December)
Creation of infrastructure for disabled people: Electronic Internet-resource for disabled persons.
Result: A new electronic mass medium, site: apparel.ru, was created and registered according to the procedure established by law. The site purpose is providing disabled citizens with information about services of social organizations, useful laws, examples of way out of difficult life situations, activity of disabled people in other regions of Russia and foreign countries. Use of the site is free of charge. This site is the first specialized electronic mass medium for disabled persons registered in Kaliningrad region.
