On the eve of the International Day of People with Disabilities, representatives of structural subdivisions of the Mariupol City Council, social services, public organizations and city council deputies discussed the implementation of an information campaign on the distribution of information on Down syndrome and autism. The aim is not just to provide the city's residents with information about the specifics of the diseases, but to inform the families where and for what support they can apply.
During the working meeting, Ulyana Tokareva, the Head of the Social Committee of the ‘Foundation for the Development of Mariupol’ non-governmental organization, noted that the issue on how to organize the interaction of local authorities and NGOs in order to draw attention to the issue of tolerant attitude towards children with disabilities was being worked in Mariupol.
One of the steps is the development of information materials. Therefore, booklets and posters about Down syndrome and autism were presented at the meeting.
“Within this year, the early intervention program is actively being implemented in Ukraine. Unfortunately, there is not enough information for people to know what autism and Down syndrome are, how to communicate with children with disabilities and socialize them in society. The preparation of information materials is the first step towards the development of early intervention in Mariupol”, - Olena Kravchenko, the Head of the ‘Believe in Yourself’ non-governmental organization, said.
In their turn, the relevant local government units expressed their willingness to help in distribution of information about disease. The relevant information material will be available in municipal transport, healthcare and educational institutions, social services, the Center for Providing Administrative Services, etc.
Nina Pavlyuk, the Deputy of the City Council, is convinced that all people should always help their neighbours: “Everything should begin with personal involvement. In particular, children with disabilities need these newsletters, and our society needs them too. Someone lives next to such families, someone knows about such people. But only few know how to help. Thanks to the information in these letters, we will be more humane about people with disabilities. We will fight the indifference of people. It will be an advantage for the whole society, because indifference kills everything”.
