Since August 2019 the Republican social-charitable public association «Down Syndrome. Inclusion» implements the project «I was born!». The goal of the project is to reduce the number of rejections of children with Down syndrome through early comprehensive support of the family with the participation of specialists.
The project is carried out jointly with maternity hospitals, early intervention centers, «Fate and Hope» Institution for Assistance in difficult Life Situations, and the State Institution «Minsk City Center for Social Services for Families and Children».
As a rule, the diagnosis of Down syndrome in a newborn is unexpected for parents. Parents often learn about the diagnosis after the birth of the child, and, due to stereotypes, this is tragically perceived by them. Medical personnel fulfill their narrow role in providing the necessary medical services and often provide negative information about the prospects for raising a child with Down syndrome.
Families of newborns with Down syndrome often do not know what kind of child they are, how they will develop and live. And the lack of interaction between medical institutions and social services in matters of family support and the provision of comprehensive assistance, as well as the organization of the necessary support increase the fear of parents in the inability to cope with their responsibilities. Due to the prevalence of negative perception of a child with Down syndrome and fear of condemnation by the public, parents abandon these children.
In order to change the situation «Down. Syndrome. Inclusion» organisation carries out activities aimed at disseminating information that children with Down syndrome can and should grow and develop in families. And for this, the organization has its own parental experience in the development, upbringing and rehabilitation of children, which can be useful for both - other families and the public. ‘Down Syndrome. Inclusion’ organisation spreads its activities throughout the territory of the Republic of Belarus, interacts with government agencies, public organizations, including international ones, working in the direction of supporting families raising children with special needs.
As part of the project «I was born!» It is planned:
- Creation of printed and electronic products about Down syndrome.
- Creation of a quick response group of specialists and parents raising children with Down syndrome to provide comprehensive assistance to the family, starting from the hospital.
- Organization of long-term support for families in which a child with Down syndrome is born.
For questions of social support for families, you can contact:
Alla +375295540181
Irina +375296274916
Due to the impossibility of complete treatment of the problems of this condition, the specialists set a goal not on permanent treatment, but on ensuring normal social status. Optimal quality of life for children with Down syndrome can be achieved primarily through parental care, meeting medical needs, through the possibilities of inclusive education and the support of the community as a whole. People with Down syndrome can do a lot, but only in their own rhythm.
In Belarus, children with Down syndrome can attend integrated groups in pre-school institutions and study in integrated classes in schools. For families raising children with Down syndrome, the services of narrow specialists are provided in the Centers for Correctional Developmental Education and Rehabilitation (Ministry of Education), centers / offices for early intervention (Ministry of Health), etc. There are parental associations that provide comprehensive support to families in which children and young people with Down syndrome live.
The initiative of the general manager of the Renaissance-Minsk hotel Jesper Fransl, a native of Denmark, in Belarus began a unique experience in employing employees with Down syndrome. Jesper Fransl wanted to see people with disabilities among the staff. Experience in the hotel received Mher Minasyan, Nikolai Vovk, Vasily Pavlikov.
