FIMITIC

THE SITUATION OF THE DISABILITY MOVEMENT IN LITHUANIA

STATISTICAL DATA

ABOUT 263 THOUTHANDS (7,5 %) – PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN LITHUANIA CHILDREN – 5 %, 16 AND MORE – 95 % 1 (59.074) – PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES

GROUP I AND II – 74.3 % OF TOTAL NUMBER OF DISABLED STRUCTURE OF THE AUTHORITIES

COUNCIL FOR THE AFFAIRS OF DISABLED

Council for the Affairs of Disabled contributes to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in forming social policy corresponding to the needs of the disabled.

It prepares recommendations to the Government, ministries and other institutions for the resolution of problems of the disabled and coordinates social integration programs of these institutions.

The Council finances programs for the integration of the disabled, announces tenders for implementation of such programs and contracts experts evaluations.

Mrs. Valaityte was chosen as a chairwoman of the Council this year.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISSABILITIES

The total number of the disabled persons recipients of the disability pensions in 2002 was 22.577.

The persons acknowledged by the State Medical Social Expertise Commission as disabled shall have the right to the disability pension.

The disability pension of the total amount shall be allocated to the disabled persons having the necessary period of the insurance of the old-age pensions.

The size of the necessary period shall be determined on the basis of the age of the person at the time of establishing the disability group.

According to the 2002 social report, monetary support and the system of benefits subdue the motivation of the disabled to seek employment

INSTITUTIONS ORGANIZING SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED

• The Lithuanian Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired People
• The Lithuanian Deaf Society
• The Association for the Physically
• Disabled of Lithuania
• The Lithuanian Union for the
• People with Disabilities
• Lithuanian Welfare Society for Persons with Mental Disability „Viltis“
• Lithuanian Paralympics committee
• The Society for People with Mental Disorders

SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

In 2002 the Government approved the National Programme for the Integration of the Disabled into the Society for 2003-2012

Objective: to ensure equal opportunities to all disabled people

The Lithuanian Council for the Affairs of the Disabled have got 22.923.000 LTL allocation from the Government for the coordinating of the Programme

Organizations, which are implimenting this Programme works on these areas: developing of the infrastructure of social services, provision with technical assistance means, employment programmes, professional and social rehabilitation, adaptation of housing and environment, cultural and sports activities.

REFORMS

In 2001 the project of the “Reform of Disability Recognition Principles and Provision of Pensions in Lithuania” started. The goal of the project is to reform the system of disability pensions in order to create equal opportunities, ensure rights and quality of life for the disabled.

Since 2002, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour is implementing a reform of the provision of social services, which aims at creating legal, administrative, and financial foundations for an effective planning, provision and organisation of social services, thereby ensuring the basic human needs and encouraging an individual to search for ways of self-helping.

SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF LID

PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION

The main goals are:

1. To help people to adopt to the society

• to learn communication skills
• to overcome psychological crisis

2. To help relatives

• to train relatives to nurse a physically disabled

3. To organize professional rehabilitation activities

• - computer courses
• - to give the opportunity to use the internet

The recreation-rehabilitation camps, seminars with specialists (psychologists, doctors) are organizing.

SOCIAL SERVICES

The main objective:

to ensure people’s ability to take care of themselves, preserving self-esteem and dignity and integrating into the society.

Assistance at home are providing to create normal living conditions and a possibility to live a full-fledged life at home.

Following services may be provided:

house-keeping, personal hygiene and attendance services, purchase and preparation of food, payment of rent and utilities, calling a doctor, buying medicines, laundry, organisation of household works and similar.

- Establishing and supporting day-care (35 - already) centers (eg. organize laundry, kineziotherapy, massage services)

- Consulting of members of the organization

PROVISION OF RANSPORT SERVICES

The services are provided by special purpose

vehicles that are adapted for the transportation of people with disability.

Providing specialized transport services for people with reduced mobility (for the Ist disability group is free)

- schoolchildren

- students

- adults

ADAPTATION OF HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT

Cooperating with municipalities in town and regions the Association executes the programme of environment and housing adaptation for the disabled

These services are provided in order to ensure the biggest possible self-sufficiency of disabled and old people by tailoring a dwelling and environment to an individual’s disability:

widening the doors of a dwelling place, arranging slopes, adaptation of the bathroom, toilet and other environment etc.

Since 1998, the Lithuanian Council for the Affairs of the Disabled has been implementing the housing programme.

Every year it is necessary to adapt the housing facilities for over 3.500 disabled persons

EDUCATION

Organizing educational seminars, camps for children and youth with physical disabilities

Financing of the physically disabled studying in higher education establishments

EMPLOYMENT

The main objective:

- To create new working places for the disabled

- To establish professional orientation and consultation center

- To organize courses for teaching competitive professions (eg. accountant) and different crafts (eg. weaving)

CULTURE

Publishing of the magazine about people with disabilities “Bičiulyste”

Organizing of conferences, seminars on different themes (medical, psychological etc.)

Gathering art groups

Celebrating the National day for people with disabilities

SPORT ACTIVITIES

Regional sport events

Regional dancing marathons

RECREATION

Organizing of the excursions

Taking people with disabilities to the sea