The Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee signed a cooperation agreement with public associations of disabled people of the region
Multifunctional treatment and labor workshops are planned to be opened in the Vitebsk region. What other projects are included in the cooperation agreement signed by the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee with public associations of disabled people of the region for 2026.
Deputy Chairperson of the Committee Vera Astapenko noted that the most important direction of such social partnership is the creation of an accessible environment for people with disabilities, taking into account a comprehensive approach.
– Last year, 85 facilities were equipped with an accessible environment. When creating them, all proposals and comments from public associations were taken into account. Two lifts were installed in the housing stock, and 101 units of low-floor transport were purchased, which contributes to the mobility of people with disabilities. All planned activities were fully completed, some, involving several years of implementation, were postponed to the next year, – explained Vera Astapenko.
The result of cooperation with the Belarusian Association of Disabled People was the creation in the Vitebsk region of the first team in the republic for football on electric wheelchairs, and the opening of the second beach for people with disabilities in Braslav. Since last year, a social taxi has been operating in Vitebsk; before that, such a service was only available in Orsha. Polotsk and Novopolotsk are next.
Using the capabilities of artificial intelligence, the Vitebsk Social Boarding House "Na Dvine" has developed and implemented mobile applications for people with disabilities. With the involvement of foreign gratuitous aid, means of social rehabilitation and robotic equipment were purchased.
– In each territorial center, people with disabilities undergo adaptation and are subsequently employed, thereby improving their quality of life by receiving wages in addition to benefits. With the support of the Russian charitable foundation "Life in Motion," 24 children with musculoskeletal disorders will have the opportunity to walk, – emphasized Vera Astapenko.
Much has been done to improve the material base. For example, the departments of social rehabilitation and habilitation of disabled people in the Oktyabrsky and Zheleznodorozhny districts of Vitebsk, and the Polotsk district have acquired a new look, and the reconstruction of the TSSON of the Beshenkovichi district is nearing completion.
– Many events and projects have been included in the plan for the current year. One of the most ambitious is the creation, together with public associations of disabled people and the institute for the development of education, of multifunctional therapeutic and labor workshops. This year, we plan to find a donor, sponsor, or attract foreign gratuitous aid to implement this project, – shared Vera Astapenko about the plans.
The Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee will continue to provide assistance to public associations of disabled people in organizational and methodological work, in conducting socio-cultural and sports events, and in involving people with disabilities in active participation in the life of civil society. One of these events is planned for next week – the multi-inclusive theater festival "On the Lilac Moon", which will bring together people with different types of disabilities: with visual impairments, hearing impairments, and mental disorders. This event was held for the first time last year and aroused great interest among both participants and spectators.
Reference "VV". 57 thousand disabled people live in the Vitebsk region. More than 2.7 thousand incapacitated citizens attend 36 departments of social rehabilitation and habilitation of disabled people. This is the best indicator in the republic.