Annual Performance Report: Expanding Participation of People with Disabilities

The project has three main objectives: support initiatives of people with disabilities and extend range of services provided by local organizations to people with disabilities in urban and rural areas through small grants; support advocacy efforts by people with disabilities grassroots organizations to promote rights of people with disabilities and increase public awareness on people with disabilities; and improve capacity of grassroots organizations that support people with disabilities and their families. Significant progress has been achieved by participating DPOs and people with disabilities, particularly with regard to advocacy and service delivery. This quarter, sixteen advocacy efforts were inspired by ChildFund project activity under this USAID award. Most partner DPOs propelled to the next level of advocacy moving from single and sometimes sporadic advocacy efforts to planned and coordinated advocacy campaigns to ensure implementation of people with disabilities' right to work, participate in decision-making, promote a barrier-free environment, and improve access to innovative community-based services. One of the project highlights is institutionalization of respite care in Belarus due to coordinated and systemic advocacy efforts supported by the project. Establishment of local councils on disability issues as a sustainable mechanism to ensure people with disabilities participation in decision making was promoted by partner DPOs. As a result, this quarter two new local Councils were created in Smolevichi and Gomel. By December 2010, 13 of 21 (62%) localities covered by project activities, had Local Councils on Disability Issues. A new training course on Advocacy was started this quarter. The content of the course addresses gaps and weaknesses in people with disabilities' advocacy. The main idea of the course is to shift the existing needs-based approach that put people with disabilities in a deliberately weak position to a rights-based approach. Implementation of 6 projects awarded in Year 2 was continued according to their time schedules. Among new/improved types of services established through small grants were: 24/7 respite care, psychological support for parents of children with disabilities, education and counseling on job placement for people with disabilities, vocational training, development of an integrated playground for children, services on alternative communication with non-verbal children, volunteer assistance and intermediary services for accessibility and access to information, information and communication through web-sites, and development, communication, play and leisure for children with disabilities. In total, 25 new/improved services for people with disabilities and their family members have been provided within small grants; 409 children with disabilities and 89 adults with disabilities obtained access to improved/created services.