Real lives

Uzbekistan- Children with disabilities participated in the very first national Special Olympics

Special Olympics for disabled children in Uzbekistan.

Amid cheering of hundreds of families, over 90 children with mental disabilities marched into Navoi sport centers to compete in the first national Special Olympics. This is the first time mentally challenged children from all over the country have come together to compete and demonstrate their best of abilities. The organizers of this national event aimed at, not only providing opportunities for personal growth of these children, but more importantly promoting integration of those with disabilities in the communities.

This event was a follow up to the Central Asian Special Olympics that was hosted by Uzbekistan with support from UNICEF among others in 2005.

In her inauguration speech, the deputy prime minister of Uzbekistan reaffirmed government’s commitment to promotion and protection of children with disabilities and extended government support to the continuation of Special Olympics. Speaking at the inauguration. The UNICEF’s representative, Reza Hossaini, also commended the children and their families for their courage and said “you and your families are truly a role model for all children and communities in Uzbekistan. By participating in this Olympics you are also challenging the stigma attached to disability”.

While the government is fully committed to supporting children with disability, the institutionalization of children, a legacy of Soviet system of government care, often deprive children off their liberty and does not necessarily serve their best interest. In addition, like most ex-soviet countries, in Uzbekistan too, families with their child with disabilities are stigmatized. As a result these children become “invisible” and kept away from public eyes.

Tackling disability,

According to a recent assessment study by the Social Adaptation Centre supported by UNICEF, the number of registered children with disabilities in Uzbekistan increased from 70,000 in 1996 to over 125,000 in 2004, while Ministry of Public Education (MoPE) reports 138,000, figures which in themselves may be an underestimation due to the stigma attached to registering children with disabilities. Anecdotal evidence suggests that worsening economic conditions are a significant factor in the rise. Almost 20,000 children with disabilities are currently in institutions for the disabled, many of whom could be with their families, if support were given to the families and inclusive education facilities provided. The rest of these children, around 60%, are left without any form of education. Among those children studying in special boarding schools around 10% can be integrated into mainstream schools. In September 2005, the MoPE has issued a special decree on inclusive education instructing all education departments to strengthen their measures on mainstreaming children with disabilities in various forms.

UNICEF’s Uzbekistan programme for improving the lives of children with disability and their families has a multi prong strategy. Prevention of disability is at the heart of UNICEF’s health and nutrition programme.

UNICEF is supporting its government and NGO partners to develop and implement strategies for de-institutionalization of children with disabilities. In addition, UNICEF has been closely collaborating with Ministry of Public Education to implement inclusive education. 228 children with disabilities were enrolled in public schools of mainstream education in 2005.

By launching Innocenti Report on “Children and Disability in Transition in CEE/CIS, UNICEF, together with government counterparts aimed at raising awareness of the public on need for inclusive education, -de-institutionalisation and fighting against stigma and discrimination towards these children.

The need for alternatives

UNICEF has also been supporting an innovative approach to encourage families to bring their children with disabilities to a community based centre called the `Sunday School`. Each of the children attending this School has limitations that do not currently allow them to attend a regular school. For some it is better this way. For others, it is a stepping stone that prepares them for attending regular school with other children. Sunday school is about socialization and learning to live independently and in a community.

For more information:

Bobur Turdiev , Communication Officer at bturdiev@unicef.org

Siyma Barkin, Child Protection Officer at sbarkin@unicef.org

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