A complex for adaptation of disabled people with mental retardation is under threat of closure
An open house took place in the Kyiv City Complex for Social Adaptation of Disabled People with Mental Retardation (16A Syvaska St.). The event was organized by the All-Ukrainian NGO “Coalition for the Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities” within the framework of the project “Preparation of budget monitoring and advocacy campaign for assisted living for disabled persons with mental retardation” under the support of the Public Health Program of the International Renaissance Foundation.
The open house was devoted to the fifth anniversary of functioning of the institution and was carried out to attract public attention to the threat of its closure due to provision of the land plot, where the complex is located, to an investor for the purpose of construction with the right to demolish the existing building.
The event program included the following:
– Visit to the mini dormitory for people with mental retardation, meeting its residents and staff;
– Presentation of proposals to bodies of the state authority regarding conducting an all-Ukrainian experiment on independent living in communities with support of disabled people with mental retardation and psychic disorders till 2020;
– Discussion regarding prospects of functioning of the mini dormitory in Kyiv and creation of the system of similar institutions in the capital and Ukraine;
– Master class on making decorative candles, postcards and other products; the activity was conducted by clients and staff of the complex.
The communal social institution “Kyiv City Complex for Social Adaptation of Disabled People with Mental Retardation” was created in 2009. The complex is in a building, provided by the Kyiv City Council and located at 16A Syvaska St. The land plot, where the building is located, was provided to an investor as early as in 2007, with the right to demolish it.
Currently, 16 disabled people with mental retardation live in the department of permanent stay and another 24 disabled persons receive rehabilitation services during the day time. Due to non-extension of the lease term for the building in 2011, the institution appeared on the verge of closure and its residents are under threat of eviction. A place for provision of services to the disabled people was not offered and at the same time it is planned to demolish the buildings, on whose renovation taxpayers’ funds were spent. According to representatives of the complex, the Main Administration of Communal Property of Kyiv is boycotting the decision of the Kyiv City Council on transfer of the premises at 16A and 12/1 Syvaska St. under management by the Complex for Social Adaptation of Disabled People with Mental Retardation and thereby the former violates a number of laws.
The building of the mini dormitory is on the balance sheet of the Collective Enterprise “Kyivzhytlospetsekspluatatsiya”. Since there are no official documents on the right to use the premises, suppliers of gas, electric energy and water are not able to conclude supply contracts which means the institution can be cut off from utilities at any time.
Contact information: Coalition for the Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities, Nataliya Zadorozhnya, (044) 496 52 92, 067 659 29 36
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The mission of the Public Health program is to reform public health, to improve public health through support of new approaches to solution of urgent public health problems, in particular, by introduction of a complex model of protection of the rights of patients, palliative care, and support to people living with HIV/AIDS and non-medical drug use.
