People with specific needs face greater obstacles for achieving equal opportunities, independence and economic and social integration. The fact that people with disorders require more specific environment and/ or care, own and use aids, is not a reason for discrimination.  

From our contacts with people from different groups, it has become obvious that they are not able to move from one place to another by themselves. It is very hard for them to be mobile and contact with the institutions.

Most people with disabilities are not able to move from one place to another without  help and because of that they cannot carry out daily activities such as shopping, going to work, going to health institutions.

Over 90% of this group have a low income that’s why they cannot afford to take a taxi. In addition, this transportation does not offer the service of accompanying and mediating between the public institutions and the disabled people in need.

For them, the contact with the institutions is made by a social worker, who is the mediator between the people and the institutions.

The workers in different institutions are not familiar with the specifics of working with disabled people. At present, there are no mobile services to make their life easier and help them to integrate successfully in society. 

In the region of Silistra there is no specialized transportation for the disabled and handicapped people or vehicles with platforms.

Main objective: Creating an environment and giving opportunities for the skilful people with disabilities for integration into the society.

1. Giving an opportunity for social services, training, and information and counselling, in a repaired, equipped and furnished rehabilitation centre.

2. Increasing the mobility of disabled people by specialized transportation of the Centre for social rehabilitation and integration.

Activities:

-           Repair work.

-           Equipping the Centre for social rehabilitation and integration. Buying a vehicle with a platform for handicapped people and transport services. 

Specialized transportation was provided for 1950 people, 8 people every day or 150 people every month, 24 people passed the foreign language course (3 groups of 8 people each), 2 people trained for working with a computer with the help of a speaking software. 1 man trained in Braille, 1 man trained in mobility, 6 people trained in folk dances, 6 people attended music therapy, 6 people attended art activities, 4 people attended work therapy, 5 people attended a cooking course. High quality equipment was purchased.

8 chairs were bought, 4 shelves, 2 computer tables, 3 working tables, 2 computers and 1 with own funds. 2 air-conditioners, 1 cooking stove, 1 massage bed, a van with a platform for handicapped people, a multifunctional device. Promotion of the Centre for social rehabilitation and integration - printing of 530 brochures, 148 calendars, and 678 materials were disseminated, repaired, equipped and furnished rehabilitation centre. 5 rooms were established – a room for massage, a room for individual work, a room for work therapy, kitchen and a dance room. All the rooms are with plaster walls and hanging ceilings with lights.  

Contact information

Krasimira Ruseva Georgieva

Dobrich Str., bl. 74, entrance B, app. 54

Silistra 7500, Bulgaria