Every citizen of Russia who has received a passport can consider himself quite grown-up and independent enough. But an adult always seriously thinks of the future that he wants to create for himself by his own hand. The problem of the independent adult life is actual for the whole youth. But especially acutely this problem is faced by the handicapped youth.
According to statistics, in Kaliningrad Region of Russia there are about 85,000 disabled people. Children and youth make up approximately a quarter of this number.
However, such a considerable group of people, in spite of the existing system of social protection of disabled persons, is still one of the most economically and socially unfortunate population categories.
In spring of 1999, six Kaliningrader having various ailments came to an idea to create an independent public organization:
- they knew well about disabled persons’ difficulties and lack of understanding of other people;
- they personally every day faced the architectural and psychological problems;
- they were confident of the prosperity of their joint actions and mutual support;
- they were sure of the importance of the disabled persons’ opinion to be taken into account with regard to help and services rendered to them;
- they wanted to implement their socially useful initiatives in favor of young disabled persons.
The personal life experience of the “founders” determined the central work line of APPAREL:
“The protection of rights and legal interests of young (14 to 29 years old) disabled persons, securing for them of opportunities equal to other citizens, solution of the tasks of disabled persons’ social integration”.
The Kaliningrad APPAREL was organized without any influential founders or rich sponsors, only by strength, energy and activity of young disabled persons themselves who wished to make their life better. APPAREL was registered on 12th October 1999.
The founders of APPAREL determined the basic principles as follows:
- APPAREL is not a medical community, but a representative and protector of disabled citizens’ interests;
- APPAREL is aimed to achieve positive changes in young disabled persons’ life;
- APPARELhelps disabled young people to maintain an active and socially responsible life position;
- APPAREL informs and educates, trains and involves young disabled people into the activity on changing own living conditions;
- Most effectively, because enables them in the future doing it independently, APPAREL helps young disabled people to make a deliberate choice and find optimal ways to solve arising difficulties.
Since 1999, the Kaliningrad APPAREL in accordance with the Charter objectives consecutively and persistently has been implementing various activities and programs for helping young disabled people
- caries out educational programs and projects; provides objective information to help to keep helath and improve living conditions;
- studies the needs of specific disabled people groups (social-marketing research); develops proposals and programs on creation of equal opportunities for disabled people; determines ways and methods for disabled people to assert their rights and legal interests;
- carries on information & education campaigns.
The initial lack of the APPAREL activists’ organizational experience and qualification in disabled people rehabilitation was compensated by obstinacy, persistence and resoluteness to achieve a success in the started business.
From the moment of establishment, new boys and girls keep joining the Kaliningrad Apparel. They are who create the basement of Apparel, a well-balanced team of employees and activists. Traditionally, the most part of them are senior pupils and students of Kaliningrad secondary and higher educational institutions. Young activists work for Apparel as volunteers. All the activists are disabled. They know well how hard it is for people with similar health disorders. Many of activists were injured or had serious diseases. That youth suffers from health disorders. Different forms and severities don’t prevent them from being optimists and be happy of new friends and supporters.
