PO “The Association of parents of disabled-children” (APDC) "ARDI" "The BEARR Trust Annual Conference 2015" in Novembver 20, 2015 (ОО "Ассоциации родителей детей - инвалидов" (АРДИ) )

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Today, November 20, 2015 via Skype NGO "Association of Parents of children -Disabled"
(ARDI) in the Kyrgyz Republic "ARDI" Seinep Dyikanbaeva is the represented, who was
invited by Mrs. Ann Lewis, Miss Janet Gunn The BEARR Trust and Mrs. Aisuluu Bolotbaeva
who offered to share the experience of ARDI in the annual Conference "The BEARR Trust
Annual Conference 2015"
The purpose of speech: to share with the participants of the conference about the situation in
the field of disability, according to the example of activities ARDI, and that despite the fact that
the organization does not provide in the direct deinstitutionalization, but all its activities aims to
keep children with disabilities in biological families.
For 20 minutes, it was told that after the collapse of the Soviet Union the organization began to
open, which were based by the persons with disabilities and parents with children with
disabilities, one of these organizations was the ARDI, which was formed in 1995 and in 2015 it
will celebrate its anniversary its activities and this report is a kind of indication of what has been
done for twenty years.
ARDI publications were presented, namely:
1. "Guidelines for public authorities to provide services for persons with disabilities and
their families" with the financial support of the Education Reform program of the "Soros-
Kyrgyzstan" in 2014.
2. "Guidelines for Parents “Access to public services for persons with disabilities and their
families" with the financial support of the Education Reform program of the "Soros-
Kyrgyzstan" in 2014.
3. "Collection of normative-legal acts" with the financial support of the Education Reform
Program of the "Soros-Kyrgyzstan" in 2014.
4. Education of children with severe and multiple disabilities "Methods and home-based
education program and the day center of the Association of Parents of Disabled Children"
with the financial support of the Education Reform Program of the "Soros-Kyrgyzstan" in
2014.
5. Analysis of the "law of the Kyrgyz Republic in the field of disability: problematic aspects
of law and practice, in terms of human rights and fundamental freedoms" with financial
support of the Education Reform Program of the "Soros-Kyrgyzstan" in 2014.
6. The educational standard is the basis for inclusive education with the financial support of
the Education Reform Program of the "Soros-Kyrgyzstan" in 2015.)
7. How to protect the rights of the child with disabilities guide for parents. Together the
Human Rights Council in 2013.
8. Parents should know their rights and methods for parents with the financial support of the
Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan in 2012.
9. Organizations in Kyrgyzstan helping children with special needs a quick reference guide.
(In the framework of Health Prom the expense of the Big Lottery Fund-2011.
Article 16 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of disability, but in
practice it is broken as practice shows ARDI and other colleagues and even the public
authorities agree that the rights of persons with disabilities are often violated. So on April
16, 2015 the shares at 12:00 pm at the building of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) on

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the social flash mob "Give children a future. Ratify the Convention!" It was revealed that
the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities should be ratified because
of the multiplicity of problems and discriminatory practices in the area of disability.
1. ARDI told about the main activities, work with government agencies, it provides
recommendations on disability and is involved in various discussions, organizing
roundtables, seminars, etc. For example: ARDI participated in the development of the
Social Development Strategy for 2012-2014 and for 2015 and 2020. It provides
recommendations for improving the legislative framework as it is based on the medical
model of disability and has not moved away from the charitable approach. So in
collaboration ICCO Koopereyshn / Kirk John Akti according to the initiative of ARDI a
national network of "Zhanyryk" was created and network project «Empowering parents
of children with disabilities» in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development of
the Kyrgyz Republic, which is being implemented by three non-governmental
organizations - ARDI, "The Family for every child" and the NGO" Nur Bala " which is
implemented with financial and technical support ICCO Koopereyshn / Kerk John Akti
and minimum social standards were developed that are accepted by the governmental
order of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek, on July 8, 2014 № 381" On approval of the state
minimum social standards of social services provided to persons with disabilities,
including children, in a semi-permanent organizations and social service institutions. "
- In 2015, ARDI with financial support from the Education Program Fund "Soros-
Kyrgyzstan" implemented a project "Integrated educational standard - the basis for
inclusive education" developed and published a collection of "Educational standards" -
the basis for inclusive education" in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and
Science of the Kyrgyz Republic and independent experts from among theorists and
practitioners of the educational sphere, and professionals working in the field of disability
in the amount of 200 pieces in the official language. It is wonderful that it was
opportunity to translate the book "The educational standard" - the basis for inclusive
education” into the state language in the amount of 270 pieces, which are distributed to
public and private organizations. The educational standard is approved by the Ministry of
Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic for the number 1089 on August 17, 2015.
In the future it is planned to test the educational institutions of Kyrgyzstan with the
financial support of the Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan and the Eurasia Foundation of
Central Asia (FETSA).
2. Some information about the Rehabilitation Center of ARDI, which was founded thanking
to the project "Support Children with Special Needs in the Kyrgyz Republic and their
Families", in partnership with HealthProm with the financial support of Big Lottery in
London, Azat Israilov became national manager of the project in collaboration with the NGO "
Shoola Number "Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyz Republic, the head of Antoninus Lee, the first rehabilitation
center (ARDI) was opened in Bishkek and Bokonbaevo village, Issyk-Kul oblast (Shoola-
Number). Crosslink Development Intl. provided professionals from America to train teachers
and ARDI and Shoola Kol. This unique experience has spread to all regions of our country and

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has been used successfully colleagues from the NGO sector, for example, the NGO "Equality",
Issyk-Kul oblast, NGO "Nur Bala" Talas, etc.
3. ARDI shared on the application of international experience in the work of their organization,
to participate in various internships in Finland, the USA, Japan, etc. on the protection of the
rights of persons with disabilities for example, about the participation in the UN Conference in
2014 and 2015 and that ARDI in cooperation with the Disabled People International DPI and
(http://www.dpi.org/) called for including disability in all UN programs and for participation in
the program Professional Fellows on Demand was organized by World Learning Exchange and
Training Unit and funded by the United States Department of State.
- The first conference in which the representative of ARDI took part in an international
conference in Helsinki, Finland in 2001 3-10 September "How to become self-sufficient?"
Disability issues in Central Asia – which was organized by KYNNYS, Mr. Kalle Könkkölä and
his team. Calle Konkkola played an important role in the origin of the movement for the rights of
persons with disabilities in the Kyrgyz Republic, Central Asia, of course in Finland and around
the world.
- Mobility International USA Mobility USA's 2nd International Women's Institute on
Leadership and Disability (WILD). USA and to Advanced Program participation in the
Empower Access Program which was organized by the American Council for
International Training on disability issues, USA.
- Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD) and DUSKIN
AINOWA Foundation, 10th Training Program for young people with disabilities in Asia
and Pacific etc.
1. ARDI talked how important it is to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities and ARDI and colleagues from the NGO sector do it and that the state is
ready to support ratification and now proactive is being done in this direction and the
working group was created under the Ministry of Social Development of the Kyrgyz
Republic and it is one of the most open state agencies in our country and it always takes
part in the various discussions on social issues and, in particular, on disability.
2. It was also noted there is international cooperation, ARDI works with all stakeholders.
For example, there are 25 articles of the initiative and Universal Health Coverage Day
about how it is important to promote the right to health and access to health services.
3. ARDI was chosen in the organization to help the European Union in the Kyrgyz Republic
for the organizations of civil society seminars "Equal rights for all, more rights for
everyone", in the framework of cooperation between the European Union in 2015,
Kyrgyzstan., which will be held on December 3-4, 2015. Bishkek, in the Park Hotel.

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4. The fact that for the past 20 years the situation in the field of disability has improved
significantly thanking to the good work of the NGO sector, government agencies, people
with disabilities and all stakeholders. The questions are not just discussed, and a step-by-
step they are solved and it can tell not only ARDI, but colleagues who work in the field
of disability. Seinep noted for over the 20 years existing of the ARDI, this organization
has done not enough, and in the allotted time, it is difficult to cover all the important
aspects and all activities for the past years.
5. Questions from the participants were very interesting: 1) about the social workers, 2)
about the access to education, 3) about the digital technologists, 4) about the openness of
the state bodies for NGOs and 5) about the traditions and people's attitude towards
disability and people with disabilities .
6. There was a question about social workers in Kyrgyzstan, whether there are enough
social workers in the country. ARDI noted that the state universities teach and train social
workers, but not all of them works in their specialty, as this is not the most prestigious
and highly paid job and only these persons who very committed and passionately love
their work by dedicated people work as social workers. However, there is a provision of
the Social Worker in the Kyrgyz Republic (approved by the Decree of the Government of
the Kyrgyz Republic on February 29, 2012 N 157), and the situation about the social
workers is getting better but a little in the country. Seinep Dyikanbaeva also shared that
she studied at the social worker, but did not graduate the Bishkek State University (BSU),
later she entered the American University of Central Asia (ARDI) and the new building
of AUCA is available for persons with disabilities, and there is only one building in the
whole of Central Asia and abroad.
7. So the question of accessing to education - ARDI noted that there are initiatives of some
NGOs which provide working with children who have Down's syndrome, autism, one of
the examples, it is the NGO "Hand in Hand" which opened on the basis of regular school
inclusive class for children with autism, the first inclusive kindergarten was opened
NGO "The ray of goodness" opened inclusive class for children with Down’s syndrome
in Bishkek, in other words, according to colleagues of NGO sector gave good initiatives
as projects and ideas for solving disability problems. There are also special schools for
the blind and hearing impaired and there are special schools, where children with
intellectual disabilities are taught, so in spite of the absence of conditions, and access to
educational institutions, there is still good practice birth of inclusive education, and there
are people with disabilities who have been educated and involved in the educational
process of the children and persons with disabilities.
8. The question about the availability of digital technology and accessibility for persons
with disabilities - ARDI noted that the phones, computers are equipped with software
"special features" and blind people use JAWS.
9. On transparency of state bodies to the NGO sector: in Kyrgyzstan as it had been
mentioned before the open space for cooperation of NGOs and government agencies and

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government bodies willingly go on contact, as we can see the experience of ARDI and
the examples of the organization's activities.
10. The question from the representative of the organization «HealthProm» in London, about
traditions and attitudes which concern to disability, Seinep Dyikanbaeva advantage of
this opportunity to thank «HealthProm» for collaboration with ARDI. She also said that
the Kyrgyz people founded helping people, good attitude, but it is more charitable
approach, not a legal, but the country should move away from that and ARDI with
members of NGOs, the national network are doing their best the policies in the area of
disability can be based on the rights and equal opportunities. The participants from the
former Soviet Union were taken part in the conference and the situation is similar in the
disability field, which was confirmed by Dr Nino Makhashvili, Global Initiative on
Psychiatry, Tbilisi.
11. It is encouraging that despite all the difficulties step by step to solve the existing
problems in the field of disability and tangible results have already seen.
12. At the end of her speech Seinep Dyikanbaeva thanked for organizing the conference, the
organizers and wished them further success!
Official site ARDI: http://www.kelechek.kg/
The Interview was given by Seinep Dyikanbaeva “About the situation in the field of
disability” in English.
Links to official websites, and in its absence, general information about activities or
projects of members of the national network "Zhanyryk" state bodies of the Kyrgyz
Republic and international organizations worldwide.