UNICEF: each fifth child with disabilities in Armenia does not attend kindergarten and school

In Armenia, children with disabilities are restricted in their ability to attend educational institutions, although the progress in that issue is noticeable. This was stated by the report, submitted by the Directorate of the educational programmes of the Armenian Office of the UNICEF. Parents of children with disabilities report that many of them cannot get the status of an invalid because of red tape and corruption in the health care system.

On October 16, the UNICEF report was presented at the conference "Availability of services in areas of education, health care, and social protection for children with disabilities in Armenia". The study was conducted among 5707 children. Of them, 5322 children are under care of their parents, and 385 children are in orphan homes.

Manja Henriette Ahrens, the representative of the UNICEF Office, highly commended the progress, recorded in the area of social protection of children with disabilities. She has emphasized that through implemented programmes, from year to year, more and more children with disabilities are integrated into the society.

"We also welcome the initiative of some employers, who offer jobs to people with disabilities," Manja Henriette Ahrens has noted. She has added that, despite that fact, there are still many unresolved issues.

Most children with disabilities do not attend kindergartens and schools

In total, in Armenia, there are 8000 officially registered children with disabilities, and that is 1 percent of the total number of children. Manja Henriette Ahrens has noted that, according to the study, conducted by the UNICEF, 18 percent of children with disabilities, that is, each fifth child, do not attend schools. According to Manja Henriette Ahrens, the reason is that most Armenian schools are not adapted to acceptance of children with disabilities.

According to Mary Pogosyan, the head of the educational programmes of the Armenian Office of the UNICEF, if only 18 percent of children with disabilities, living with their parents, do not attend schools, then, 72 percent of children with disabilities from orphan homes do not attend schools.

Regarding health care services, Mary Pogosyan has noted that about 80 percent of children use them; however, among them, only 27 percent use rehabilitation services. "Many of them are even not aware of those services."

On December 3, the National Assembly of Armenia is to hold hearings of the UNICEF report.

Parents of children with disabilities complain about corruption, red tape and absence of real preferences

According to Mariam B., whose son has hearing problems, at every step of obtaining the status of a person with disability, they had faced corruption. "We went through such red tape, while receiving that status, which is scary to remember. At each visit, we have been hinted that if we pay a certain amount, then all issues will be solved much faster and easier," Miriam has emphasized in her conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Karen A. from the city of Vanadzor said that all preferences that are provided for children with disabilities, are not used in the most part, since there is also corruption in that area.

Lilith A. said that, despite the fact that medical care for children with disabilities is rendered free of charge, some health care institutions request to pay a certain amount.