DISABILITY WAS A "SHAME" IN THE REGIONS

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[05:57 pm] 22 November, 2006

According to statistics, Tavoush region has the highest number of
disabled people in Armenia.

Nevertheless, the results were concluded in 2002; and there have been
no investigations since.

The reasons of disability are health problems, especially those caused
during birth. "The girls of this generation were born during the war
years which has had its influence. There are many cases of Cesarean
section. The residents of Ijevan have the problem of malnutrition of
future mothers too.

Besides, there are few qualified doctors", says Marine Khakhanyan,
psychologist-pedagogue of the Ijevan special school.

There are special schools in four centers of the region – Berd,
Noyemberyan, Dilijan and Ijevan. More than 300 children with special
needs attend those schools. The centers were founded by NGO "Bridge
of Hope".

First the centers had difficulty in finding disabled children, as
many parents were ashamed even to walk in the yard with their disables
children. "Often the neighbors did not know that there is a disabled
child living next door. It was difficult to persuade the parents
to bring their children to the school. Today we have many pupils
who become more unrestrained and reveal their talents. During the
past three years about 150 pupils started to attend common schools",
says Artashes Amiryan, manager of the Ijevan regional department of
"Bridge of Hope".

The Ijevan special school is located in a kindergarten building. The
municipality has given the building to the NGO free of charge for 99
years. 3-25-year-old about 85 children with special needs come to
the center five days a week. They play, draw, sing and participate
in the meetings of the debate club. They also participate in courses
of rhetoric. Alongside with the conditions created for the disabled
children, the center has one problem – that of heating. The center
is heated with gas stoves which are not enough for the building,
not to mention the dangers they cause.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress