anniversary First Step Georgia Annual Newsletter 2013 On Arriving in Tbilisi in 1994 into a very difficult social and political situation, I was introduced to the conditions for disabled children in Georgian institutions. Conditions which had been confronted in Ireland by parents, who fought for the rights of their children. Encouraged by the experience of Irish NGOs who little by little managed to get support for services for children with special needs, Nino Zhvania and I set about founding a new organisation, First Step Georgia, which celebrates its 15 anniversary this year. Our objective was to pilot projects to investigate what would work to improve conditions for children with disabilities. What has been achieved by everyone involved lls us with great satisfaction, particularly the closing of Kaspi in 2008, and the introduction of many successful family centred programmes which continue today in the First Step Village and throughout Georgia. We believe that after 15 years, the moment has come for the human rights of these children and young adults be recognised by the Georgian Government. It is not within the competence of any NGO to effectively plan and deliver the disability service of a nation. anks to a very professional staff on the ground and the support of generous donors a template has been devised which now needs development on a national level. We will do everything we can to assist our Georgian colleagues and friends in achieving this goal. Jane Corboy I would like to congratulate the First Step Georgia on their 15th anniversary. e First Step is one of our main partners on disability issues both at service provision as well as at policy development level. Our partnership also envisages preparation of skilled personnel to help children with disabilities, namely, the personnel of the day care and early intervention centers, specialists working with children, and social workers. I wish them a lot of success in further protecting the rights of children with disabilities. Sascha Graumann UNICEF Representative in Georgia For the last decade, partnership between Save the Children and First Step Georgia in the eld of disability has been very productive and successful. Creative, dynamic, vigorous and decisive work of the disability and child care experts of both organizations has made lasting changes in the lives of children with disabilities. Stepping up outreach activities and home-based service delivery to the dozen of homebound, severely disabled children in Telavi and Imereti regions, and active involvement in the (a) Child Care/Deinstitutionalization and (b) Disability System reform/s with special focus on children with disabilities are particular highlights of the strong ground level collaboration. We do believe that our on-going joint efforts will craft a bold new future for the children with disabilities and make their lives different. Dear colleagues of the FSG, our warmest congratulations to the 15th anniversary! We wish you success in moving forward and accomplishing your important mission! Natia Deisadze Country Director Save the Children Azerbaijan and Georgia When we were starting this in 1998, we were driven by the wish to save concrete children. Over the years, we had to solve different kinds of problems and, correspondingly, look for different ways of helping children with disabilities. For me, the ultimate goal was for the organization to accumulate knowledge about all of the effective means of providing services to these children so that the best models of managing this problem would be ready by the time the state would need them. I would like to congratulate First Step Georgia, the children, the staff on the 15th anniversary of the organization and wish all of us to continue our work and achieve greater success. Nino Kadagidze-Zhvania OUR VISION: A Georgian society that provides equal opportunity to all of fully realize individual potential; to increase personal well-being to contribute to common welfare and to ensure that children with intellectual and physical disabilities are a fully empowered part of society. OUR MISSION: To promote inclusion of children with intellectual and physical disabilities, to improve their quality of life, to remove the stigma which society continues to harbor against disabilitiy in children and to raise awareness and tolerance of their special needs through provision of services to the children and their families.
On Arriving in Tbilisi in 1994 into a very difficult social and political situation, I was introduced to the conditions for disabled children in Georgian institutions. Conditions which had been confronted in Ireland by parents, who fought for the rights of their children. Encouraged by the experience of Irish NGOs who little by little managed to get support for services for children with special needs, Nino Zhvania and I set about founding a new organisation, First Step Georgia, which celebrates its 15� anniversary this year.
Our objective was to pilot projects to investigate what would work to improve conditions for children with disabilities. What has been achieved by everyone involved �lls us with great satisfaction, particularly the closing of Kaspi in 2008, and the introduction of many successful family centred programmes which continue today in the First Step Village and throughout Georgia.
We believe that after 15 years, the moment has come for the human rights of these children and young adults be recognised by the Georgian Government. It is not within the competence of any NGO to effectively plan and deliver the disability service of a nation.
anks to a very professional staff on the ground and the support of generous donors a template has been devised which now needs development on a national level. We will do everything we can to assist our Georgian colleagues and friends in achieving this goal.
Jane Corboy
I would like to congratulate the First Step Georgia on their 15th anniversary. e First Step is one of our main partners on disability issues both at service provision as well as at policy development level. Our partnership also envisages preparation of skilled personnel to help children with disabilities, namely, the personnel of the day care and early intervention centers, specialists working with children, and social workers. I wish them a lot of success in further protecting the rights of children with disabilities.
Sascha GraumannUNICEF
Representative in Georgia
For the last decade, partnership between Save the Children and First Step Georgia in the �eld of disability has been very productive and successful. Creative, dynamic, vigorous and decisive work of the disability and child care experts of both organizations has made lasting changes in the lives of children with disabilities. Stepping up outreach activities and home-based service delivery to the dozen of homebound, severely disabled children in Telavi and Imereti regions, and active involvement in the (a) Child Care/Deinstitutionalization and (b) Disability System reform/s with special focus on children with disabilities are particular highlights of the strong ground level collaboration. We do believe that our on-going joint efforts will craft a bold new future for the children with disabilities and make their lives different.
Dear colleagues of the FSG, our warmest congratulations to the 15th anniversary!
We wish you success in moving forward and accomplishing your important mission!
Natia DeisadzeCountry DirectorSave the Children
Azerbaijan and Georgia
When we were starting this in 1998, we were driven by the wish to save concrete children. Over the years, we had to solve different kinds of problems and, correspondingly, look for different ways of helping children with disabilities. For me, the ultimate goal was for the organization to accumulate knowledge about all of the effective means of providing services to these children so that the best models of managing this problem would be ready by the time the state would need them.
I would like to congratulate First Step Georgia, the children, the staff on the 15th anniversary of the organization and wish all of us to continue our work and achieve greater success.
Nino Kadagidze-Zhvania
OUR VISION:A Georgian society that provides equal opportunity to all of fully realize individual potential; to increase personal well-being to contribute to common welfare and to ensure that children with intellectual and physical disabilities are a fully empowered part of society.
OUR MISSION:To promote inclusion of children with intellectual and physical disabilities, to improve their quality of life, to remove the stigma which society continues to harbor against disabilitiy in children and to raise awareness and tolerance of their special needs through provision of services to the children and their families.
First Step Georgia (FSG) is one of the leading partners of the government in the state child care reform. From February 2011 to February 2013 FSG implemented 2-year project Developing Alternative Care Models for Children with Disabilities and Strengthening Capacity of their Families. e goal of the project was to support the current state reform and ensure prevention of institutionalization of children with disabilities and promote their development in a family environment through provision of family supporting services. Project covered the following objectives:
Establish the Early Intervention program for children with disabilities from 0 to 6 in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi
Develop the policy document of the Early Intervention
Increase number of the children with severe and profound disabilities receiving the specialized day care services – within the project were established 2 new day care centers in Tbilisi and Kutaisi serving
Assessment of children with disabilities residing in 2 remaining large-scale institutions for children with disabilities (Senaki and Kodjori) and determine the alternative care services
Development of the Model on Small Group Homes for children with disabilities
Trainings of 14 Day Care Service Providers for Children with Disabilities
Training of 225 statutory social workers in order to better assessment and intervention of children with disabilities
First Step Georgia Continues its Intensive Cooperation with the Government, Attempting to Change the Social Policies of the State
Within the child care reform project First Step Georgia served 260 children with disabilities from birth to 18: 179 children in Tbilisi, 62 children in Kutaisi, and 19 in Batumi. e project signi�cantly contributed to strengthening the welfare of children with disabilities.
In March 2013, FSG arranged the presentation for the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs and international and local partners (UNICEF, EU, Save the Children, Children of Georgian, EveryChild, SOS Kinderdorff) and introduced the results of the project and recommendations for bettering social policy for children with disabilities.
To ensure social integration and prevention of institutionalization of children with disabilities, it is very crucial to increase number of day care and early intervention vouchers, especially in the regions
It is very important to develop a cohesive system of services of children with disabilities from birth to 18 that will address the needs of the children from the very beginning.
Establishment of the Early Intervention program demonstrated an importance of early support of children and families that led to inclusion of children in mainstream kindergartens and schools.
ose children who are not able to get mainstream education should be served within the special day care and home-based care programs. e programs programs are not linked with each other and social system does not 'see' a child from birth to 18.
To develop the consistent system of social programs it is important to establish the state referral system for early intervention program that better cooperation of medical personnel of
In March 2013, FSG carried out an anonymous survey of 152 parents of the bene�ciaries of day care, early intervention and home based care programs. e survey clari�ed that there is high prevalence of poverty of families of children with disabilities and they mainly relay on social assistance.
FSG conducted a survey of thebene�ciaries' families
2 Annual Newsletter 2013 3First Step Georgia
maternity houses, children hospitals, statutory social workers and service providers. is referral system will ensure prevention of abandonment of infants and children and provide them with necessary services.
In order to ensure good quality of services and implementation of the state DCC standards, it is very critical to increase the cost of the state DCC voucher. FSG's practice showed children with severe intellectual and physical disabilities and behavioral disorders require intensive care and comprehensive assistance of the professionals.
It is very vital to establish Home Based Care program for children with profound intellectual and functional disabilities to avoid a high risk of their institutionalization in residential care
To better social services for children with disabilities, cooperation between federal and local governments should be strengthened.
Family Supporting services should be linked to the needs of the children rather than based only poverty line.
It is very important to establish regional multifunctional team that will negotiate with SSA offices and will be responsible for multifunctional assessment of the children/youth with disabilities, make referrals to existing social and educational services – day care centers, early intervention, rehab center, medical services, and inclusive preschool, mainstream and vocational educational institutions; provide parents/care-givers, foster families and SGH staff with counseling how to promote proper development of children and youth with disabilities.
Results of the survey:Cash assistance: 72% of families get child's disability pension; 29% of families get cash assistance; 24% gets both – pension and assistance;
Income: Average income of 75% of the families is up to 500 GEL; permanent income of 7% out of 75% is consisted only by the child's pension;
Family composition: 81% of these families have 4-5 members; 78% are 2-parent households.
Employment: no single family member works in 33% of these families; 1 family member works in 45% of the families; 2 family members work in 16% of the families. 3 family members work in 1% of the families. It was clear that in the families only one family member works
Health Insurance: 80% of children have health insurance, though 22% cannot use it because the state health insurance package does not cover health examinations and medicines necessary for children with disabilities.
Cost of a raising of a child with disability: to provide necessary food, medicines, clothes, hygiene stuff to their children every month 13% of families need – 100 GEL; 28% need 200 GEL; 16% needs 300 GEL and 35% needs 400-500 GEL;
Role of the Family Supporting Services: 67% of the parents thought that day care and early intervention signi�cantly improved functional ability and social integration of their children, as they noted it was very helpful to get recommendations from various specialists at one place.
27% consider these services especially day care is very helpful from �nancial perspective as well– their children got quali�ed free of charge services they would never be able to afford; at the same time parents were able to keep their jobs or even got new ones. 16% found day care very important, because parents had time for other children as well.
Requirements of families: 30% of the parents declared that the government should raise children's pension to avoid acute poverty; 17% of the parents underlined importance of modifying the state health insurance package according to the needs of the children. 14% required increase age of early intervention program from 3 to 6; 12% underlined that cash and in-kind assistance should not be linked with poverty line.
e survey underlined an importance of the family supporting services to prevent further worsening of their Social Economic Status.
First Step Georgia (FSG) is one of the leading partners of the government in the state child care reform. From February 2011 to February 2013 FSG implemented 2-year project Developing Alternative Care Models for Children with Disabilities and Strengthening Capacity of their Families. e goal of the project was to support the current state reform and ensure prevention of institutionalization of children with disabilities and promote their development in a family environment through provision of family supporting services. Project covered the following objectives:
Establish the Early Intervention program for children with disabilities from 0 to 6 in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi
Develop the policy document of the Early Intervention
Increase number of the children with severe and profound disabilities receiving the specialized day care services – within the project were established 2 new day care centers in Tbilisi and Kutaisi serving
Assessment of children with disabilities residing in 2 remaining large-scale institutions for children with disabilities (Senaki and Kodjori) and determine the alternative care services
Development of the Model on Small Group Homes for children with disabilities
Trainings of 14 Day Care Service Providers for Children with Disabilities
Training of 225 statutory social workers in order to better assessment and intervention of children with disabilities
First Step Georgia Continues its Intensive Cooperation with the Government, Attempting to Change the Social Policies of the State
Within the child care reform project First Step Georgia served 260 children with disabilities from birth to 18: 179 children in Tbilisi, 62 children in Kutaisi, and 19 in Batumi. e project signi�cantly contributed to strengthening the welfare of children with disabilities.
In March 2013, FSG arranged the presentation for the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs and international and local partners (UNICEF, EU, Save the Children, Children of Georgian, EveryChild, SOS Kinderdorff) and introduced the results of the project and recommendations for bettering social policy for children with disabilities.
To ensure social integration and prevention of institutionalization of children with disabilities, it is very crucial to increase number of day care and early intervention vouchers, especially in the regions
It is very important to develop a cohesive system of services of children with disabilities from birth to 18 that will address the needs of the children from the very beginning.
Establishment of the Early Intervention program demonstrated an importance of early support of children and families that led to inclusion of children in mainstream kindergartens and schools.
ose children who are not able to get mainstream education should be served within the special day care and home-based care programs. e programs programs are not linked with each other and social system does not 'see' a child from birth to 18.
To develop the consistent system of social programs it is important to establish the state referral system for early intervention program that better cooperation of medical personnel of
In March 2013, FSG carried out an anonymous survey of 152 parents of the bene�ciaries of day care, early intervention and home based care programs. e survey clari�ed that there is high prevalence of poverty of families of children with disabilities and they mainly relay on social assistance.
FSG conducted a survey of thebene�ciaries' families
2 Annual Newsletter 2013 3First Step Georgia
maternity houses, children hospitals, statutory social workers and service providers. is referral system will ensure prevention of abandonment of infants and children and provide them with necessary services.
In order to ensure good quality of services and implementation of the state DCC standards, it is very critical to increase the cost of the state DCC voucher. FSG's practice showed children with severe intellectual and physical disabilities and behavioral disorders require intensive care and comprehensive assistance of the professionals.
It is very vital to establish Home Based Care program for children with profound intellectual and functional disabilities to avoid a high risk of their institutionalization in residential care
To better social services for children with disabilities, cooperation between federal and local governments should be strengthened.
Family Supporting services should be linked to the needs of the children rather than based only poverty line.
It is very important to establish regional multifunctional team that will negotiate with SSA offices and will be responsible for multifunctional assessment of the children/youth with disabilities, make referrals to existing social and educational services – day care centers, early intervention, rehab center, medical services, and inclusive preschool, mainstream and vocational educational institutions; provide parents/care-givers, foster families and SGH staff with counseling how to promote proper development of children and youth with disabilities.
Results of the survey:Cash assistance: 72% of families get child's disability pension; 29% of families get cash assistance; 24% gets both – pension and assistance;
Income: Average income of 75% of the families is up to 500 GEL; permanent income of 7% out of 75% is consisted only by the child's pension;
Family composition: 81% of these families have 4-5 members; 78% are 2-parent households.
Employment: no single family member works in 33% of these families; 1 family member works in 45% of the families; 2 family members work in 16% of the families. 3 family members work in 1% of the families. It was clear that in the families only one family member works
Health Insurance: 80% of children have health insurance, though 22% cannot use it because the state health insurance package does not cover health examinations and medicines necessary for children with disabilities.
Cost of a raising of a child with disability: to provide necessary food, medicines, clothes, hygiene stuff to their children every month 13% of families need – 100 GEL; 28% need 200 GEL; 16% needs 300 GEL and 35% needs 400-500 GEL;
Role of the Family Supporting Services: 67% of the parents thought that day care and early intervention signi�cantly improved functional ability and social integration of their children, as they noted it was very helpful to get recommendations from various specialists at one place.
27% consider these services especially day care is very helpful from �nancial perspective as well– their children got quali�ed free of charge services they would never be able to afford; at the same time parents were able to keep their jobs or even got new ones. 16% found day care very important, because parents had time for other children as well.
Requirements of families: 30% of the parents declared that the government should raise children's pension to avoid acute poverty; 17% of the parents underlined importance of modifying the state health insurance package according to the needs of the children. 14% required increase age of early intervention program from 3 to 6; 12% underlined that cash and in-kind assistance should not be linked with poverty line.
e survey underlined an importance of the family supporting services to prevent further worsening of their Social Economic Status.
In September 2013, Maguli Shaghashvili, Director of First Step Georgia, attended the meeting of the General Assembly on Disability and Development in New York. e main purpose of this signi�cant event was to recognize the importance of the rights and participation of people with disabilities. It also aimed to make the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and UN post-2015 Agenda focus more on disability-inclusive approaches and to promote disability-inclusive national strategies. While the Millennium Development Goals represent strong efforts to address global poverty, there is a striking gap when it comes to including persons with disabilities.
An estimated 1 billion people worldwide who live with disabilities are still excluded from equal access to education, employment, healthcare and social and legal support systems. As a result they are much more exposed to extreme poverty. As UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon underlined, recent research shows that excluding people with disabilities from the employment market has meant the GDP is 7% lower in the US. erefore, including people with disabilities is vital not only from a human rights perspective, but also from an economic standpoint.
e main conclusion of the meeting was that greater efforts are needed to ensure that development processes include persons with disabilities in all areas and that they have an opportunity for equal participation.
Attendees were greeted by the UN Messenger of Peace, Stevie Wonder, who noted that since 2009 his focus has mainly been the promotion of the rights of people with disabilities. He underlined the importance of assistive technology that is so vital for people with disabilities to walk, communicate, get an education, work, and be integrated.
e meeting included two roundtables: International and regional cooperation and partnerships for disability-inclusive development, and the Post-2015 Development Agenda and inclusive development for persons with disabilities. Within the �rst round table, the national representatives of member-countries made presentations on how they were addressing the needs and rights of people with disabilities, for example though rati�cation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and amending social welfare policy. Currently, 134 countries have rati�ed the CRPD. e Delegate from Bangladesh noted that their Government has allocated 1% of the national budget to meet the needs of people with disabilities. In addition to ratifying the CRPD, Morocco has developed legal toolkits to implement the Convention and created a Law on the Rights of Disabled Persons.
During the second roundtable a draft outcome document was drawn up stating that “We, the Heads of State and Government, have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 23 September 2013 to reaffirm our resolve to work together for disability-inclusive development and the commitment of the international community to the advancement of the rights of all persons with disabilities, which is deeply rooted in the goals of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. e document includes ways for realizing the development goals for persons with disabilities until 2015 and beyond.
It was concluded that during the 70th session the status and progress made to realize these goals will be reviewed. First Step Georgia plans to work with local and international partners to strengthen cooperation and support the Georgian government to make national policies and strategies more disability-inclusive.
First Step Georgia Participation in the UN General Assembly on Disability and Development
5First Step Georgia4 Annual Newsletter 2013
First Step Georgia Becomes a Member of the UNICEF Global Partnership on Children with DisabilitiesIn 2013, First Step Georgia become a member of the Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities (GPcwd) and participated in the Forum arranged by UNICEF on September 24, 2013. UNICEF has led the coordination of the GPcwd since its foundation in 2012. GPcwd is made up of 220 organizations, including international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), disabled persons' organizations (DPOs), academia, governments and the private sector. Based on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the GPcwd initiates joint action and advocacy to promote the rights of children with disabilities at the global and country levels.
UNICEF organized a breakfast meeting on September 23, 2013 before the General Assembly meeting in New York, which was opened by Anthony Lake, Executive Director of UNICEF. He underlined that it was very crucial to create an understanding of disability within the lifecycle framework, in other words, address the issues across the entire lifespan of a person with disabilities. It will take increased investments to promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in all sectors.
e importance of addressing disabilities across sectors is crucial. As he noted, every new initiative such as construction of new buildings and creating new programs and services, must be done from a disability perspective. “How we can open our minds, if we close doors?” e construction of a building with accessibility only increases the budget by 1%, thus it is crucial to develop disability awareness among all sectors including government, the private sector, and the general public. Millennium Development Goals provide a possibility for mobilizing political opinion and increasing the commitment to inclusion of all persons with disabilities.
On September 24th, future steps for the Partnership were discussed in the Forum. ese included organizational structures and strategies for 2013-2015 to ensure children with disabilities are included in the post-2015 development agenda. In its �rst year (2012-2013), the GPcwd made remarkable accomplishments increasing global awareness and advocacy in four task areas: e Nutrition Task Force Humanitarian Task Force, Education Task Force, and Assistive Technology Task Force. is year a �fth task force was added, the Early Intervention Task Force. All �ve task forces composed by the Partners will continue active cooperation to develop priorities and action plans. First Step Georgia became a member of the Education Task Force and Early Intervention Task Force and will mediate between the Georgian Government/Partners and the Global Partnership.
First Step Georgia sincerely thanks the Open Society Foundation for the opportunity and support to attend and participate within this important event.
In September 2013, Maguli Shaghashvili, Director of First Step Georgia, attended the meeting of the General Assembly on Disability and Development in New York. e main purpose of this signi�cant event was to recognize the importance of the rights and participation of people with disabilities. It also aimed to make the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and UN post-2015 Agenda focus more on disability-inclusive approaches and to promote disability-inclusive national strategies. While the Millennium Development Goals represent strong efforts to address global poverty, there is a striking gap when it comes to including persons with disabilities.
An estimated 1 billion people worldwide who live with disabilities are still excluded from equal access to education, employment, healthcare and social and legal support systems. As a result they are much more exposed to extreme poverty. As UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon underlined, recent research shows that excluding people with disabilities from the employment market has meant the GDP is 7% lower in the US. erefore, including people with disabilities is vital not only from a human rights perspective, but also from an economic standpoint.
e main conclusion of the meeting was that greater efforts are needed to ensure that development processes include persons with disabilities in all areas and that they have an opportunity for equal participation.
Attendees were greeted by the UN Messenger of Peace, Stevie Wonder, who noted that since 2009 his focus has mainly been the promotion of the rights of people with disabilities. He underlined the importance of assistive technology that is so vital for people with disabilities to walk, communicate, get an education, work, and be integrated.
e meeting included two roundtables: International and regional cooperation and partnerships for disability-inclusive development, and the Post-2015 Development Agenda and inclusive development for persons with disabilities. Within the �rst round table, the national representatives of member-countries made presentations on how they were addressing the needs and rights of people with disabilities, for example though rati�cation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and amending social welfare policy. Currently, 134 countries have rati�ed the CRPD. e Delegate from Bangladesh noted that their Government has allocated 1% of the national budget to meet the needs of people with disabilities. In addition to ratifying the CRPD, Morocco has developed legal toolkits to implement the Convention and created a Law on the Rights of Disabled Persons.
During the second roundtable a draft outcome document was drawn up stating that “We, the Heads of State and Government, have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 23 September 2013 to reaffirm our resolve to work together for disability-inclusive development and the commitment of the international community to the advancement of the rights of all persons with disabilities, which is deeply rooted in the goals of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. e document includes ways for realizing the development goals for persons with disabilities until 2015 and beyond.
It was concluded that during the 70th session the status and progress made to realize these goals will be reviewed. First Step Georgia plans to work with local and international partners to strengthen cooperation and support the Georgian government to make national policies and strategies more disability-inclusive.
First Step Georgia Participation in the UN General Assembly on Disability and Development
5First Step Georgia4 Annual Newsletter 2013
First Step Georgia Becomes a Member of the UNICEF Global Partnership on Children with DisabilitiesIn 2013, First Step Georgia become a member of the Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities (GPcwd) and participated in the Forum arranged by UNICEF on September 24, 2013. UNICEF has led the coordination of the GPcwd since its foundation in 2012. GPcwd is made up of 220 organizations, including international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), disabled persons' organizations (DPOs), academia, governments and the private sector. Based on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the GPcwd initiates joint action and advocacy to promote the rights of children with disabilities at the global and country levels.
UNICEF organized a breakfast meeting on September 23, 2013 before the General Assembly meeting in New York, which was opened by Anthony Lake, Executive Director of UNICEF. He underlined that it was very crucial to create an understanding of disability within the lifecycle framework, in other words, address the issues across the entire lifespan of a person with disabilities. It will take increased investments to promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in all sectors.
e importance of addressing disabilities across sectors is crucial. As he noted, every new initiative such as construction of new buildings and creating new programs and services, must be done from a disability perspective. “How we can open our minds, if we close doors?” e construction of a building with accessibility only increases the budget by 1%, thus it is crucial to develop disability awareness among all sectors including government, the private sector, and the general public. Millennium Development Goals provide a possibility for mobilizing political opinion and increasing the commitment to inclusion of all persons with disabilities.
On September 24th, future steps for the Partnership were discussed in the Forum. ese included organizational structures and strategies for 2013-2015 to ensure children with disabilities are included in the post-2015 development agenda. In its �rst year (2012-2013), the GPcwd made remarkable accomplishments increasing global awareness and advocacy in four task areas: e Nutrition Task Force Humanitarian Task Force, Education Task Force, and Assistive Technology Task Force. is year a �fth task force was added, the Early Intervention Task Force. All �ve task forces composed by the Partners will continue active cooperation to develop priorities and action plans. First Step Georgia became a member of the Education Task Force and Early Intervention Task Force and will mediate between the Georgian Government/Partners and the Global Partnership.
First Step Georgia sincerely thanks the Open Society Foundation for the opportunity and support to attend and participate within this important event.
6 Annual Newsletter 2013
First Step Georgia Gets Kids Involved in Sports through Special Olympics Georgia
In 2013, First Step Georgia marked the National Day of People with Disabilities by organizing and event called “Friendship rough Art” at the Museum of Ethnography. e festivities were supported by the Georgian National Museum, Museum of Ethnography, Palitra L, Multi-Pulti Children's Entertainment Center, Barambo, Zedazeni and Coca-Cola.
In addition to this National Day, 2013 has been named the Year for People with Disabilities. FSG youth and their family members, volunteers and friends took part in the event, which included a concert by the inclusive ensemble, Ebani; a sale/exhibition of our Day Care Center children's artwork; a show by illusionist Davit Robakidze; an entertaining performance by the well-known Georgian Multi-Pulti characters; face and hand decoration for children by students from the Academy of Arts; and the creation of a large joint painting by our children with their guests. e children of the Day Care Center offered cookies to the guests that they had baked themselves.
We thank the famous singer Nino Katamadze and magician David Robakidze for participating in the event, both of whom underlined the importance for children and teens with disabilities to be integrated into society.
Day Care Center Children and Youth Create and Present Gifts: A Visit to the Kojori OrphanageFirst Step Georgia's Day Care Center has various hobby groups, including an arts group which creates toys, some for sensory development. e children make these, with their teacher's support, from various materials. Sensory development toys enhance and strengthen children's physical and intellectual development. ey are eye-catching, make sounds and thus improve children's general development.
e FSG Day Care Center participants visited the Kojori Orphanage near Tbilisi, a home for children from 6 to 18 with special needs, and brought toys that they had made themselves, including sensory strips, fruit and vegetable identi�cation albums, and dice. e FSG young people taught their hosts how to use the toys. Both visitors and hosts carried out activities together and became acquainted through drawing, singing and reciting poems.
FSG is planning more of this type of activities, especially as the Day Care attendees participate with great enthusiasm making gifts and presenting them to others. is shows that greater potential for sharing and inclusion, teaching and learning is possible--even with limited resources—is possible.
Marking the National Day of People with Disabilities
rough Art”“Friendship
Sports and physical activity are important for the physical and intellectual development of children with disabilities, and First Step Georgia strives to encourage them to participate in sports and other healthy activities. One important project in which the children attending our Day Care Center took part was a global movement called Special Olympics - Young Athletes, in which Georgia started participating in 2013.
is movement aims to promote healthy lifestyles and sports among children in general, including those with disabilities and has a positive impact on the social integration of all children. Our bene�ciaries were active in various sports and entertaining competitions. We focused mainly on exercises that facilitate teens' mental and physical development and integration. e young people played and studied and developed motor skills like hand-eye coordination. Preparatory training took place at the day care center, but the children also practiced at playgrounds and training �elds in the city.
Participants from the FSG Day Care were winners, and very determined in football and sprint. ey were awarded medals, which pleased and motivated them greatly. e movement is planning to invite FSG to participate again, including in other sports. Such events facilitate the integration of young people with disabilities in sports and might mean there are more Georgian competitors participating in the international Paralympics.
7First Step Georgia
6 Annual Newsletter 2013
First Step Georgia Gets Kids Involved in Sports through Special Olympics Georgia
In 2013, First Step Georgia marked the National Day of People with Disabilities by organizing and event called “Friendship rough Art” at the Museum of Ethnography. e festivities were supported by the Georgian National Museum, Museum of Ethnography, Palitra L, Multi-Pulti Children's Entertainment Center, Barambo, Zedazeni and Coca-Cola.
In addition to this National Day, 2013 has been named the Year for People with Disabilities. FSG youth and their family members, volunteers and friends took part in the event, which included a concert by the inclusive ensemble, Ebani; a sale/exhibition of our Day Care Center children's artwork; a show by illusionist Davit Robakidze; an entertaining performance by the well-known Georgian Multi-Pulti characters; face and hand decoration for children by students from the Academy of Arts; and the creation of a large joint painting by our children with their guests. e children of the Day Care Center offered cookies to the guests that they had baked themselves.
We thank the famous singer Nino Katamadze and magician David Robakidze for participating in the event, both of whom underlined the importance for children and teens with disabilities to be integrated into society.
Day Care Center Children and Youth Create and Present Gifts: A Visit to the Kojori OrphanageFirst Step Georgia's Day Care Center has various hobby groups, including an arts group which creates toys, some for sensory development. e children make these, with their teacher's support, from various materials. Sensory development toys enhance and strengthen children's physical and intellectual development. ey are eye-catching, make sounds and thus improve children's general development.
e FSG Day Care Center participants visited the Kojori Orphanage near Tbilisi, a home for children from 6 to 18 with special needs, and brought toys that they had made themselves, including sensory strips, fruit and vegetable identi�cation albums, and dice. e FSG young people taught their hosts how to use the toys. Both visitors and hosts carried out activities together and became acquainted through drawing, singing and reciting poems.
FSG is planning more of this type of activities, especially as the Day Care attendees participate with great enthusiasm making gifts and presenting them to others. is shows that greater potential for sharing and inclusion, teaching and learning is possible--even with limited resources—is possible.
Marking the National Day of People with Disabilities
rough Art”“Friendship
Sports and physical activity are important for the physical and intellectual development of children with disabilities, and First Step Georgia strives to encourage them to participate in sports and other healthy activities. One important project in which the children attending our Day Care Center took part was a global movement called Special Olympics - Young Athletes, in which Georgia started participating in 2013.
is movement aims to promote healthy lifestyles and sports among children in general, including those with disabilities and has a positive impact on the social integration of all children. Our bene�ciaries were active in various sports and entertaining competitions. We focused mainly on exercises that facilitate teens' mental and physical development and integration. e young people played and studied and developed motor skills like hand-eye coordination. Preparatory training took place at the day care center, but the children also practiced at playgrounds and training �elds in the city.
Participants from the FSG Day Care were winners, and very determined in football and sprint. ey were awarded medals, which pleased and motivated them greatly. e movement is planning to invite FSG to participate again, including in other sports. Such events facilitate the integration of young people with disabilities in sports and might mean there are more Georgian competitors participating in the international Paralympics.
7First Step Georgia
School teachers, students, representatives of various organizations, Georgians as well as foreigners, come to visit our Day Care Center, and this brings special joy to the children. Communication and contacts with society are important for social integration and First Step Georgia welcomes such initiatives. We are trying to involve more representatives from various �elds in the lives of our children, provide the visitors with more information about people with disabilities in general, and raise awareness about their rights and challenges. We believe this will bring much-needed understanding from society at large.
e PR Club visited the DCC recently. is group of professionals working in public relations, marketing, advertising and communications presented each child with a gift and expressed their readiness to become involved in various social activities or participate in charity events to help our young people in their quest for social integration.
A representative from Outdoor.ge also visited, and to the delight of our children and staff, gave the Day Care Center a plasma screen TV, which is highly appreciated and will be used to great advantage in our programs.
Children were greatly excited by another visit — this time from cartoon characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. e children recited poems to the colorful guests, danced in excitement and expressed their gratitude for the visit.
New Approaches to erapy: Medical Clowns from Israel
e Day Care Center plays a role in Public Information
A recent visit by the group Medical Clowns delighted our Day Care participants. Medical Clowns are from Israel and came to Georgia within the framework of their project of special entertainment program for the children, who, due to severe medical conditions, have to be hospitalized, sometimes for months. Hospitalized children are often stressed and lonely and are especially happy to be visited by clowns in their medical institutions. e idea of Medical Clowns is to bring happiness and joy and, if only for a few minutes, distract the children from their harsh reality. Another important component of the Clowns' work is a special program that they offer to the children with special needs.
During their trip to Georgia, Medical Clowns came to visit our Day Care Center bene�ciaries and demonstrated their special program for children with disabilities using games that are are selected in such a way as to allow each child to participate, in spite of their physical or intellectual disabilities, and bene�t from joy and positive energy as much as possible.
First Step Georgia puts a strong emphasis on social integration for both children and families, so in addition to providing children with special needs with services. We take measures to ensure families are not living in isolation which, unfortunately, is often the case.
is isolation re�ects the inappropriate attitudes and lack of information in society—contact and communication with families of children with disabilities and with the children themselves are important factors in raising awareness and educating society. We involve children and youth in cultural, educational and sports activities with the public, so they can gain mutual experience. Examples include our young people's visits to theaters, which the children enjoy, and this social contact is very important for them. We plan more visits in future to cinemas, theaters and other venues.
Supporting Social Integration through Cultural Events
9First Step Georgia8 Annual Newsletter 2013
School teachers, students, representatives of various organizations, Georgians as well as foreigners, come to visit our Day Care Center, and this brings special joy to the children. Communication and contacts with society are important for social integration and First Step Georgia welcomes such initiatives. We are trying to involve more representatives from various �elds in the lives of our children, provide the visitors with more information about people with disabilities in general, and raise awareness about their rights and challenges. We believe this will bring much-needed understanding from society at large.
e PR Club visited the DCC recently. is group of professionals working in public relations, marketing, advertising and communications presented each child with a gift and expressed their readiness to become involved in various social activities or participate in charity events to help our young people in their quest for social integration.
A representative from Outdoor.ge also visited, and to the delight of our children and staff, gave the Day Care Center a plasma screen TV, which is highly appreciated and will be used to great advantage in our programs.
Children were greatly excited by another visit — this time from cartoon characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. e children recited poems to the colorful guests, danced in excitement and expressed their gratitude for the visit.
New Approaches to erapy: Medical Clowns from Israel
e Day Care Center plays a role in Public Information
A recent visit by the group Medical Clowns delighted our Day Care participants. Medical Clowns are from Israel and came to Georgia within the framework of their project of special entertainment program for the children, who, due to severe medical conditions, have to be hospitalized, sometimes for months. Hospitalized children are often stressed and lonely and are especially happy to be visited by clowns in their medical institutions. e idea of Medical Clowns is to bring happiness and joy and, if only for a few minutes, distract the children from their harsh reality. Another important component of the Clowns' work is a special program that they offer to the children with special needs.
During their trip to Georgia, Medical Clowns came to visit our Day Care Center bene�ciaries and demonstrated their special program for children with disabilities using games that are are selected in such a way as to allow each child to participate, in spite of their physical or intellectual disabilities, and bene�t from joy and positive energy as much as possible.
First Step Georgia puts a strong emphasis on social integration for both children and families, so in addition to providing children with special needs with services. We take measures to ensure families are not living in isolation which, unfortunately, is often the case.
is isolation re�ects the inappropriate attitudes and lack of information in society—contact and communication with families of children with disabilities and with the children themselves are important factors in raising awareness and educating society. We involve children and youth in cultural, educational and sports activities with the public, so they can gain mutual experience. Examples include our young people's visits to theaters, which the children enjoy, and this social contact is very important for them. We plan more visits in future to cinemas, theaters and other venues.
Supporting Social Integration through Cultural Events
9First Step Georgia8 Annual Newsletter 2013
e Participation of Fathers in Children's Development:Fathers' Day in the FSG Early Intervention Program
e role of fathers in the process of child development is just as important as that of mothers. A child is particularly successful when he or she feels the support and the warmth of both parents, and their unity and strength can contribute greatly to a child's future achievements. First Step Georgia is trying to increase fathers' involvement and help them understand the important role they play in their children's development. A unique Fathers' Day event was held by the FSG Early Intervention Program that included amusing competitions and entertaining activities with prizes and certi�cates. First Step Georgia plans to continue this tradition of celebrating Fathers' Day.
Early Intervention Program Introduces
Communication”“Alternative
11First Step Georgia
e Early Intervention Program – Discover, Develop and EmpowerFirst Step Georgia has been implementing its Early Intervention Program since 2011, serving children from birth to seven and their families in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi and Rustavi. e aim of the program is to identify the children with developmental disorders and those at risk for disabilities and to stimulate their development. It is especially important to help parents and family members master the skills needed to support their children in their quest for an education and social integration. e program also offers services to children without disabilities, but who need support to become more con�dent and successful in their studies and everyday life, to manage their own behavior and develop social and communications skills.
e concept of First Step Georgia's Early Intervention Program is based on the Discover, Develop and Empower approach:
Discover means identifying children at risk to prevent development disorders if possible. Resources are targeted in function of the child's needs, including family strengths, available specialists and services--state, charities, support networks, etc.
Develop implies an assessment of the child's skills which can be used to help the family create an environment conducive to the child's development, and includes specialists' skills as well as methodological tools for addressing different needs and diagnoses. It also includes developing public awareness.
Empower involves the promotion of the child's and the family's skills to
function independently, both for the child (life skills) and the family (to raise their child); to promote social awareness and stronger ties between families with special needs, the state and the society; it includes using individuals and organizations to advocate for children and families with special needs and to provide high-quality, need-based services.
A 2013 internal evaluation in three regions of Georgia, covering administration and programs, showed FSG has a strong team of trained specialists that access biannual re-training, regular supervision and monitoring. ey participate regularly in conferences and workshops and use internationally recognized methods and tools such as HELP--a curriculum-based assessment tool; PEP3 psychoeducational pro�ling for autism; and a streamlined incident management methodology with M and E for quality assurance.
FSG is working with state and partner institutions to create an early development policy. In 2012-2013 an early development project was created with UNICEF's support, and a policy document is planned for 2013-2014 with help from the Open Society Foundation. First Step Georgia's Early Intervention Program was designed, introduced and developed with �nancial and professional support from the Irish organizations Next Step and St. Michael's House; HSBC, UNICEF; and the Open Society Foundation. We express our sincere gratitude.
Annual Newsletter 201310
First Step Georgia's Early Intervention Program has been implemented for 3 years, and recently began applying a new method of alternative communication, beginning in early childhood.
Alternative forms of communication play an important role for children who are unable to establish verbal communication with people around them. When children have difficulties expressing their needs and wishes verbally, it is necessary to �nd alternative ways of communicating, which can include appropriate symbols, pictures and drawings.
Using alternative communication facilitates children's relations with people around them. For example, if a child wants to drink water, he or she shows a card depicting a glass �lled with water. If they want to go to the playground they show the corresponding card. is method allows those who live or work with children with communication problems to avoid behavioral issues due to a child's frustration at not getting their message across. Alternative forms of
communication signi�cantly ease tensions and increase positive interactions and relations with family and educators.
e Participation of Fathers in Children's Development:Fathers' Day in the FSG Early Intervention Program
e role of fathers in the process of child development is just as important as that of mothers. A child is particularly successful when he or she feels the support and the warmth of both parents, and their unity and strength can contribute greatly to a child's future achievements. First Step Georgia is trying to increase fathers' involvement and help them understand the important role they play in their children's development. A unique Fathers' Day event was held by the FSG Early Intervention Program that included amusing competitions and entertaining activities with prizes and certi�cates. First Step Georgia plans to continue this tradition of celebrating Fathers' Day.
Early Intervention Program Introduces
Communication”“Alternative
11First Step Georgia
e Early Intervention Program – Discover, Develop and EmpowerFirst Step Georgia has been implementing its Early Intervention Program since 2011, serving children from birth to seven and their families in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi and Rustavi. e aim of the program is to identify the children with developmental disorders and those at risk for disabilities and to stimulate their development. It is especially important to help parents and family members master the skills needed to support their children in their quest for an education and social integration. e program also offers services to children without disabilities, but who need support to become more con�dent and successful in their studies and everyday life, to manage their own behavior and develop social and communications skills.
e concept of First Step Georgia's Early Intervention Program is based on the Discover, Develop and Empower approach:
Discover means identifying children at risk to prevent development disorders if possible. Resources are targeted in function of the child's needs, including family strengths, available specialists and services--state, charities, support networks, etc.
Develop implies an assessment of the child's skills which can be used to help the family create an environment conducive to the child's development, and includes specialists' skills as well as methodological tools for addressing different needs and diagnoses. It also includes developing public awareness.
Empower involves the promotion of the child's and the family's skills to
function independently, both for the child (life skills) and the family (to raise their child); to promote social awareness and stronger ties between families with special needs, the state and the society; it includes using individuals and organizations to advocate for children and families with special needs and to provide high-quality, need-based services.
A 2013 internal evaluation in three regions of Georgia, covering administration and programs, showed FSG has a strong team of trained specialists that access biannual re-training, regular supervision and monitoring. ey participate regularly in conferences and workshops and use internationally recognized methods and tools such as HELP--a curriculum-based assessment tool; PEP3 psychoeducational pro�ling for autism; and a streamlined incident management methodology with M and E for quality assurance.
FSG is working with state and partner institutions to create an early development policy. In 2012-2013 an early development project was created with UNICEF's support, and a policy document is planned for 2013-2014 with help from the Open Society Foundation. First Step Georgia's Early Intervention Program was designed, introduced and developed with �nancial and professional support from the Irish organizations Next Step and St. Michael's House; HSBC, UNICEF; and the Open Society Foundation. We express our sincere gratitude.
Annual Newsletter 201310
First Step Georgia's Early Intervention Program has been implemented for 3 years, and recently began applying a new method of alternative communication, beginning in early childhood.
Alternative forms of communication play an important role for children who are unable to establish verbal communication with people around them. When children have difficulties expressing their needs and wishes verbally, it is necessary to �nd alternative ways of communicating, which can include appropriate symbols, pictures and drawings.
Using alternative communication facilitates children's relations with people around them. For example, if a child wants to drink water, he or she shows a card depicting a glass �lled with water. If they want to go to the playground they show the corresponding card. is method allows those who live or work with children with communication problems to avoid behavioral issues due to a child's frustration at not getting their message across. Alternative forms of
communication signi�cantly ease tensions and increase positive interactions and relations with family and educators.
Early Childhood Intervention Specialists from First Step Georgia attended a �ve day Early Intervention Study Tour in Washington, DC hosted by the Open Society Foundation in partnership with Georgetown University and Open Society Georgia Foundation
Rusudan Bochorishvilli and Tamar Nozadze accompanied their colleagues from the Georgia Association of Child Neurologists and Neurosurgeons, Maia Gabunia and Salome Barbakadze. Additionally Amiran Dateshidze, Head of Social Issues and Programs Division, Social Protection Department and Nato Panchulidze, Head, Preschool Education Support Unit, Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia accompanied Rusiko and Taka.
e participants took part in a variety of activities that discussed contemporary early childhood intervention practices within the United States.
e study tour focused on the strategies used within the United States to implement evidence-based early childhood intervention and overcome the challenges in developing a comprehensive integrated system of early intervention.
Rusiko and Taka participated in lectures, interactive panel presentations, problem-solving sessions, and site visits. e site visits included accompanying early
First Step Georgia Participatesin Early ChildhoodIntervention Study Tour
interventionists to a child's home or child care center to observe therapy or educational programming. Also, meetings were arranged with the US government officials representing the Department of Education, Infants and Toddlers Program, Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Child and Family Services. A representative from the US Maternal and Child Health Bureau met with the group to discuss the Maternal and Child Health Home Visiting Program.
A highlight of the week for Rusiko and Taka was an official meeting at the Embassy of Georgia with Tamar Tchelidze, MD as well as the Charge D'Affairs for Georgia. is visit was extremely helpful in creating relationships among the service providers, local government officials and national officials. As a mother of children with special needs, Dr. Tchelidze is very interested in helping to develop an early childhood intervention system in her home country of Georgia.
In addition to the discussions on early intervention Rusiko and Taka were able to visit many of the major historical and cultural sites of Washington. e group had a private tour of the US Capitol, including a visit to the Floor of the House of Representatives and an opportunity to stand at the same podium used by the US President when he addresses Congress.
In 2013, the leading teachers of the physical culture and art clubs at First Step Georgia's Day Care Center attended a two-month international course in Israel in which representatives of nine counties took part. e title of the course is "Integration of Persons With Disabilities Into Society" and its goal is to promote cooperation between various countries, share knowledge and experience and establish new contacts.
e training covered the following issues: familiarization with Israel's educational system and principles of integration in the �eld of education, model of integration, training of staff for integration of persons with disabilities into educational institutions, visits to specialized educational facilities, kindergartens and day care centers, learning about local non-governmental organizations' projects and activities related to persons with disabilities. e course also included trainings on leadership skills, proposal writing and project management.
Visit toIsrael
Neither children nor young people with severe or profound disabilities receive free psychosocial assistance at home in Georgia. Children and young people with disabilities have potential skills and capacities that need assessment and further development. Most cannot leave their homes due to physical and social constraints, severe health conditions or behavioral disorders. ey rarely have access to proper healthcare or social bene�ts, much less formal or even informal education. e interaction with their peers and other members of society and participation in sports or cultural activities are rare, and as a result they are not included in social life. Children with severe and profound disabilities who spend years at home often lack the basic life skills of caring for themselves. Families with a child with severe or profound disabilities also become more socially vulnerable since the child needs constant and sometimes intensive care, the involvement of specialists and special equipment—yet in Georgia no free support services are offered. is is why the home-based care program is crucial for many families.
First Step Georgia has been implementing the Home Care Program for the past �ve years in order to improve the quality of life of these families and help develop the skills necessary to ensure the child's future potential for independent living and social integration. e program offers services to approximately 60 bene�ciaries every year, and over the past �ve years, 13 parents of children with disabilities have been able to become employed outside the home.
e Home Care Program serves children with severe or profound physical and intellectual disabilities, who—for the most part--
e Home-Based Care Program Serves over 60 Children
cannot access other services because they are bedridden or have limited mobility and sometimes behavioral disorders and severe health conditions.
In 2013, a survey conducted among the parents of bene�ciaries of the program revealed that the existence of this service was very important for them because their child became more con�dent, there were improvements in health, functional and academic skills, and the child had become calmer and learned better social behavior. ey affirmed that more social integration had taken place which meant that the psycho-social state of the family improved overall. Home-based care is one of the most important support services for reducing the risk of institutionalization of children with severe disabilities, helping families to manage their child's development and integration.
13First Step GeorgiaAnnual Newsletter 201312
Early Childhood Intervention Specialists from First Step Georgia attended a �ve day Early Intervention Study Tour in Washington, DC hosted by the Open Society Foundation in partnership with Georgetown University and Open Society Georgia Foundation
Rusudan Bochorishvilli and Tamar Nozadze accompanied their colleagues from the Georgia Association of Child Neurologists and Neurosurgeons, Maia Gabunia and Salome Barbakadze. Additionally Amiran Dateshidze, Head of Social Issues and Programs Division, Social Protection Department and Nato Panchulidze, Head, Preschool Education Support Unit, Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia accompanied Rusiko and Taka.
e participants took part in a variety of activities that discussed contemporary early childhood intervention practices within the United States.
e study tour focused on the strategies used within the United States to implement evidence-based early childhood intervention and overcome the challenges in developing a comprehensive integrated system of early intervention.
Rusiko and Taka participated in lectures, interactive panel presentations, problem-solving sessions, and site visits. e site visits included accompanying early
First Step Georgia Participatesin Early ChildhoodIntervention Study Tour
interventionists to a child's home or child care center to observe therapy or educational programming. Also, meetings were arranged with the US government officials representing the Department of Education, Infants and Toddlers Program, Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Child and Family Services. A representative from the US Maternal and Child Health Bureau met with the group to discuss the Maternal and Child Health Home Visiting Program.
A highlight of the week for Rusiko and Taka was an official meeting at the Embassy of Georgia with Tamar Tchelidze, MD as well as the Charge D'Affairs for Georgia. is visit was extremely helpful in creating relationships among the service providers, local government officials and national officials. As a mother of children with special needs, Dr. Tchelidze is very interested in helping to develop an early childhood intervention system in her home country of Georgia.
In addition to the discussions on early intervention Rusiko and Taka were able to visit many of the major historical and cultural sites of Washington. e group had a private tour of the US Capitol, including a visit to the Floor of the House of Representatives and an opportunity to stand at the same podium used by the US President when he addresses Congress.
In 2013, the leading teachers of the physical culture and art clubs at First Step Georgia's Day Care Center attended a two-month international course in Israel in which representatives of nine counties took part. e title of the course is "Integration of Persons With Disabilities Into Society" and its goal is to promote cooperation between various countries, share knowledge and experience and establish new contacts.
e training covered the following issues: familiarization with Israel's educational system and principles of integration in the �eld of education, model of integration, training of staff for integration of persons with disabilities into educational institutions, visits to specialized educational facilities, kindergartens and day care centers, learning about local non-governmental organizations' projects and activities related to persons with disabilities. e course also included trainings on leadership skills, proposal writing and project management.
Visit toIsrael
Neither children nor young people with severe or profound disabilities receive free psychosocial assistance at home in Georgia. Children and young people with disabilities have potential skills and capacities that need assessment and further development. Most cannot leave their homes due to physical and social constraints, severe health conditions or behavioral disorders. ey rarely have access to proper healthcare or social bene�ts, much less formal or even informal education. e interaction with their peers and other members of society and participation in sports or cultural activities are rare, and as a result they are not included in social life. Children with severe and profound disabilities who spend years at home often lack the basic life skills of caring for themselves. Families with a child with severe or profound disabilities also become more socially vulnerable since the child needs constant and sometimes intensive care, the involvement of specialists and special equipment—yet in Georgia no free support services are offered. is is why the home-based care program is crucial for many families.
First Step Georgia has been implementing the Home Care Program for the past �ve years in order to improve the quality of life of these families and help develop the skills necessary to ensure the child's future potential for independent living and social integration. e program offers services to approximately 60 bene�ciaries every year, and over the past �ve years, 13 parents of children with disabilities have been able to become employed outside the home.
e Home Care Program serves children with severe or profound physical and intellectual disabilities, who—for the most part--
e Home-Based Care Program Serves over 60 Children
cannot access other services because they are bedridden or have limited mobility and sometimes behavioral disorders and severe health conditions.
In 2013, a survey conducted among the parents of bene�ciaries of the program revealed that the existence of this service was very important for them because their child became more con�dent, there were improvements in health, functional and academic skills, and the child had become calmer and learned better social behavior. ey affirmed that more social integration had taken place which meant that the psycho-social state of the family improved overall. Home-based care is one of the most important support services for reducing the risk of institutionalization of children with severe disabilities, helping families to manage their child's development and integration.
13First Step GeorgiaAnnual Newsletter 201312
One of First Step Georgia's objectives is to “Develop educational programs focused on special needs of children and youth” and another is to “Develop family support”. ese are high priorities, and it is crucial to prepare parents and families and to offer them appropriate information about the management of their children's disabilities and about how to help their child develop, improve functional skills and facilitate their social integration.
A new textbook for the parents of children with disabilities has been published by First Step Georgia within the framework of the United States Embassy-funded project "Supporting Equal Education, Independent Living and Social Inclusion of Children and Teenagers with Disabilities". e textbook is based on recommendations given by local and international specialists to parents of children with intellectual or speech disorders, behavioral disorders and autistic children. e author of the textbook is Keti Zhvania, Coordinator of the Special Class Project.
A New Textbook for Parents
Between August 2012 and July 2013 First Step Georgia carried out a project called "Supporting Equal Education, Independent Living and Social Inclusion of Children and Teenagers with Disabilities" supported by funding from the United States Embassy's Democracy Commission Small Grants program. e overall goal of the project was to �nd ways for children and teens with moderate to severe intellectual development disorders to access formal and informal education help them develop skills for independent living, and promote their social integration. e project also promoted public awareness-raising about the problems and needs of children and teenagers with intellectual development disorders.
e creation of special classrooms at public schools would greatly facilitate the reduction of the number of children and teenagers in specialized schools. First Step Georgia cooperated with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia to create a special (integrated) educational model, to teach the methodology and to launch this model project in Tbilisi's public school #147. e principle of this school, Ms. Tata Chkhaidze, and school personnel supported this initiative
A special (integrated) classroom, an educational model and a teaching methodology were created within the project. e Ministry has retained this methodology and model to be used in several other public schools.
An information brochure for parents, entitled Recommendations to Parents of Children with Disabilities, was also created offer advice on how to help children and teenagers with disabilities receive education and develop functional skills. Recommendations were developed for the government on how to enhance the social integration of children with disabilities and protect their rights.
A New Modelof Classroom
Integration in aTbilisi Public
School
communicate and she has learned to use them independently. She likes listening to music and can �nd her favorite songs on the internet or on a mobile phone, can switch on children's shows or her favorite series on TV. Her attachment to electronics created serious problems at one point because she became extremely frustrated when they weren't available. With the coordinated work of the Center's staff, a special program was developed for her to use a computer for a certain period of time after completing other activities. is program has gradually proven successful. Overcoming behavioral problems has helped Nini become more socially integrated and the family decided to enroll her in the 1st grade of inclusive Public School. After this year Nini will be placed in the grade appropriate for her age. We continue to work with Nini to help her adjust and so that her current achievements continue to make her family and teachers hopeful for her future.
Nini was born in 2003, and her difficulties started when she was one year old—she was �nally diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder combined with intellectual disability, behavioral disorder and speech delay. e mother brought �ve-year-old Nini to First Step Georgia's Day Care Center where the little girl cried constantly and would not be separated from her mother. She would not eat, could not concentrate on lessons, tore up her books, and was unable to communicate what she wanted. She could do very little without assistance. As a result of a gradual, step-by-step program, the Day Care Center's resource specialists and teachers have contributed to improving Nini's lifeskills, making her more independent. Today, she can follow even complex instructions, perform personal hygiene (with help) and eat independently. She has learned to draw, write her own name, ride a bicycle, bounce on the trampoline and follow lessons outside the home. Nini's participation in the “”picture exchange communication program” has shown positive results—from a child who could not speak at all, today she clearly pronounces words, can recite the lyrics of her favorite songs, and expresses her wishes in simple sentences.
Nini has a special affection for electronic equipment such as the computer, TV, mobile phone which have helped her
Nino Mamatsashvili’s Fight forInclusion and Education
15First Step GeorgiaAnnual Newsletter 201314
One of First Step Georgia's objectives is to “Develop educational programs focused on special needs of children and youth” and another is to “Develop family support”. ese are high priorities, and it is crucial to prepare parents and families and to offer them appropriate information about the management of their children's disabilities and about how to help their child develop, improve functional skills and facilitate their social integration.
A new textbook for the parents of children with disabilities has been published by First Step Georgia within the framework of the United States Embassy-funded project "Supporting Equal Education, Independent Living and Social Inclusion of Children and Teenagers with Disabilities". e textbook is based on recommendations given by local and international specialists to parents of children with intellectual or speech disorders, behavioral disorders and autistic children. e author of the textbook is Keti Zhvania, Coordinator of the Special Class Project.
A New Textbook for Parents
Between August 2012 and July 2013 First Step Georgia carried out a project called "Supporting Equal Education, Independent Living and Social Inclusion of Children and Teenagers with Disabilities" supported by funding from the United States Embassy's Democracy Commission Small Grants program. e overall goal of the project was to �nd ways for children and teens with moderate to severe intellectual development disorders to access formal and informal education help them develop skills for independent living, and promote their social integration. e project also promoted public awareness-raising about the problems and needs of children and teenagers with intellectual development disorders.
e creation of special classrooms at public schools would greatly facilitate the reduction of the number of children and teenagers in specialized schools. First Step Georgia cooperated with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia to create a special (integrated) educational model, to teach the methodology and to launch this model project in Tbilisi's public school #147. e principle of this school, Ms. Tata Chkhaidze, and school personnel supported this initiative
A special (integrated) classroom, an educational model and a teaching methodology were created within the project. e Ministry has retained this methodology and model to be used in several other public schools.
An information brochure for parents, entitled Recommendations to Parents of Children with Disabilities, was also created offer advice on how to help children and teenagers with disabilities receive education and develop functional skills. Recommendations were developed for the government on how to enhance the social integration of children with disabilities and protect their rights.
A New Modelof Classroom
Integration in aTbilisi Public
School
communicate and she has learned to use them independently. She likes listening to music and can �nd her favorite songs on the internet or on a mobile phone, can switch on children's shows or her favorite series on TV. Her attachment to electronics created serious problems at one point because she became extremely frustrated when they weren't available. With the coordinated work of the Center's staff, a special program was developed for her to use a computer for a certain period of time after completing other activities. is program has gradually proven successful. Overcoming behavioral problems has helped Nini become more socially integrated and the family decided to enroll her in the 1st grade of inclusive Public School. After this year Nini will be placed in the grade appropriate for her age. We continue to work with Nini to help her adjust and so that her current achievements continue to make her family and teachers hopeful for her future.
Nini was born in 2003, and her difficulties started when she was one year old—she was �nally diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder combined with intellectual disability, behavioral disorder and speech delay. e mother brought �ve-year-old Nini to First Step Georgia's Day Care Center where the little girl cried constantly and would not be separated from her mother. She would not eat, could not concentrate on lessons, tore up her books, and was unable to communicate what she wanted. She could do very little without assistance. As a result of a gradual, step-by-step program, the Day Care Center's resource specialists and teachers have contributed to improving Nini's lifeskills, making her more independent. Today, she can follow even complex instructions, perform personal hygiene (with help) and eat independently. She has learned to draw, write her own name, ride a bicycle, bounce on the trampoline and follow lessons outside the home. Nini's participation in the “”picture exchange communication program” has shown positive results—from a child who could not speak at all, today she clearly pronounces words, can recite the lyrics of her favorite songs, and expresses her wishes in simple sentences.
Nini has a special affection for electronic equipment such as the computer, TV, mobile phone which have helped her
Nino Mamatsashvili’s Fight forInclusion and Education
15First Step GeorgiaAnnual Newsletter 201314
Mariam, 15, has been a bene�ciary of First Step Georgia's Home-Based Care Program for six years now. She has a congenital dysplasia of the hip, meaning she has difficulty walking and sometimes suffers from severe pain. Despite her condition, however, she has remained positive and is an enthusiastic participant in social and educational activities. Over the years, Mariam has undergone several complicated operations and she will need yet another. Her family is internally displaced from Abkhazia and socially vulnerable. Her father is also severely disabled which means her mother cannot leave the home—their conditions require her constant care. e Home Care Program provides Mariam with the services of a family teacher, pediatrician, social worker, and occupational therapist. Over the years, she improved and this year she was involved in the mainstream inclusive education system. Home teachers help her keep up with the lessons.
Mariam's mother said, “e First Step Georgia Home Care Program has helped my daughter very much—it has made her become more cheerful and interested in the world around her. e home teacher has helped her improve her intellectual skills and she has caught up with the school program, despite the fact that she missed a year of school. After the last operation Mariam needed a special diet, and First Step Georgia has helped with that too. is organization is so important for supporting our family!”
Makes Great Strides with Home-based Care
Mariam Sivakashvili
First Step Georgia is working with the business sector to promote the social integration of people with disabilities through corporate social responsibility projects. We would like to underscore the importance of the charity work done by the electronics company, Galaxy, and how they help children at First Step Georgia. Four children with disabilities in our Day Care Centers, Home Care and Early Intervention Programs received �nancial support from Galaxy that will cover the cost of the services they will receive over the next seven months. Galaxy also sponsored the creation of a special room for sensory integration in the Kutaisi Day Care Center which is overseen by First Step Georgia, which meant that the room could be furnished with special child development resources and audio-visual equipment. A Sensory Room plays an important role in our Day Care Centers by helping children with disabilities develop more specialized skills to improve their potential for social interaction and independence.
Hopefully Galaxy's initiative to sponsor services for children with disabilities will set an example for other companies and for Georgia's business sector in general.
About Galaxy
e Electronics hypermarket Galaxy opened in 2011, and is the largest electronics trade center in the South Caucasus. Its network continues to grow in Tbilisi and at the regional level as well. In Georgia they are an official and authorized dealer for such leading global brands as Samsung, Sharp, Hitachi and Toshiba. Since opening in Georgia, Galaxy has been actively involved in charity events and other initiatives to help disadvantaged social groups.
e GalaxyProject
COOPERATION WITH THE BUSINESS SECTOR
BDO Consulting's Gift to Children
Playing with items that promote development is an important part of the psychosocial rehabilitation of children with special needs. Each of our programs involves the use of developmental toys that help children experience various sensations and increase their perception. ese essential educational materials are important, and each year First Step Georgia purchases such objects for all our programs.
BDO Georgia made a generous donation to the children by providing them with toys to assemble, jigsaw puzzles, colorful blocks, modeling clay, gouache, percussion instruments, colorful balls, various construction kits and more. A BDO representative personally presented the items to the children who, in turn, immediately drew some pictures and gave them to the guest to express their gratitude.
BDO Georgia, formerly known as Tbilisi Managers and Consultants (TMC), has been a member company of the BDO network since 2009. Staffed with up to 100 professionals and enjoying the support of the BDO global network represented in 139 counties, BDO Georgia offers its clients auditing, tax, outsourcing, business consultancy and legal services.
17First Step GeorgiaAnnual Newsletter 201316
First Step Georgia is implementing a Sensory Integration Program for the development of children with disabilities in its Tbilisi and Kutaisi Day Care Centers. Children with special needs often experience problems with sensory integration that can limit their future independence in everyday life (i. e. eating, getting dressed, bathing and so on). ey �nd it difficult to adapt to their environment without assistance due to hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sensory inputs, or problems with coordination and movement. A child may have problems with balance and fall frequently, for example when going up or down stairs, or may have difficulty learning or using skills such as writing, drawing, using scissors or other tools.
Sensory integration is a neurological process when sensory input from the body and the environment is transmitted to the central nervous system, which then receives this information and coordinates behavior. Sensory integration helps us learn and perform the tasks of everyday life. ey enhance a child's sensory integration and are keys to their overall development. A basic principle of sensory integration theory suggests working with children using games, as they learn about themselves and the surrounding world by playing.
A child with a sensory integration disorder cannot adapt to their environment and might experience problems related to attention de�cit, hyperactivity, learning difficulties, challenging behavior, lack of social relations, uncoordinated movements, etc.
First Step Georgia offers children an individual Sensory Integration Program in a special Sensory Room that has objects and toys and audiovisual materials. e goal of the Program is to help children learn appropriate reactions to auditory, visual, olfactory, taste and tactile inputs so they can use these skills in their everyday environment.
In order to provide quali�ed Sensory Integration Program Occupational therapists of First Step Georgia took an online course at the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Foundation that is a world leader in research, education, and advocacy. FSG purchased the Assessment Toolkit and Working Guidelines for Children with Sensory Dysfunction developed by SPD Foundation professionals.
e DevelopmentalSigni�cance of SensoryIntegration
Mariam, 15, has been a bene�ciary of First Step Georgia's Home-Based Care Program for six years now. She has a congenital dysplasia of the hip, meaning she has difficulty walking and sometimes suffers from severe pain. Despite her condition, however, she has remained positive and is an enthusiastic participant in social and educational activities. Over the years, Mariam has undergone several complicated operations and she will need yet another. Her family is internally displaced from Abkhazia and socially vulnerable. Her father is also severely disabled which means her mother cannot leave the home—their conditions require her constant care. e Home Care Program provides Mariam with the services of a family teacher, pediatrician, social worker, and occupational therapist. Over the years, she improved and this year she was involved in the mainstream inclusive education system. Home teachers help her keep up with the lessons.
Mariam's mother said, “e First Step Georgia Home Care Program has helped my daughter very much—it has made her become more cheerful and interested in the world around her. e home teacher has helped her improve her intellectual skills and she has caught up with the school program, despite the fact that she missed a year of school. After the last operation Mariam needed a special diet, and First Step Georgia has helped with that too. is organization is so important for supporting our family!”
Makes Great Strides with Home-based Care
Mariam Sivakashvili
First Step Georgia is working with the business sector to promote the social integration of people with disabilities through corporate social responsibility projects. We would like to underscore the importance of the charity work done by the electronics company, Galaxy, and how they help children at First Step Georgia. Four children with disabilities in our Day Care Centers, Home Care and Early Intervention Programs received �nancial support from Galaxy that will cover the cost of the services they will receive over the next seven months. Galaxy also sponsored the creation of a special room for sensory integration in the Kutaisi Day Care Center which is overseen by First Step Georgia, which meant that the room could be furnished with special child development resources and audio-visual equipment. A Sensory Room plays an important role in our Day Care Centers by helping children with disabilities develop more specialized skills to improve their potential for social interaction and independence.
Hopefully Galaxy's initiative to sponsor services for children with disabilities will set an example for other companies and for Georgia's business sector in general.
About Galaxy
e Electronics hypermarket Galaxy opened in 2011, and is the largest electronics trade center in the South Caucasus. Its network continues to grow in Tbilisi and at the regional level as well. In Georgia they are an official and authorized dealer for such leading global brands as Samsung, Sharp, Hitachi and Toshiba. Since opening in Georgia, Galaxy has been actively involved in charity events and other initiatives to help disadvantaged social groups.
e GalaxyProject
COOPERATION WITH THE BUSINESS SECTOR
BDO Consulting's Gift to Children
Playing with items that promote development is an important part of the psychosocial rehabilitation of children with special needs. Each of our programs involves the use of developmental toys that help children experience various sensations and increase their perception. ese essential educational materials are important, and each year First Step Georgia purchases such objects for all our programs.
BDO Georgia made a generous donation to the children by providing them with toys to assemble, jigsaw puzzles, colorful blocks, modeling clay, gouache, percussion instruments, colorful balls, various construction kits and more. A BDO representative personally presented the items to the children who, in turn, immediately drew some pictures and gave them to the guest to express their gratitude.
BDO Georgia, formerly known as Tbilisi Managers and Consultants (TMC), has been a member company of the BDO network since 2009. Staffed with up to 100 professionals and enjoying the support of the BDO global network represented in 139 counties, BDO Georgia offers its clients auditing, tax, outsourcing, business consultancy and legal services.
17First Step GeorgiaAnnual Newsletter 201316
First Step Georgia is implementing a Sensory Integration Program for the development of children with disabilities in its Tbilisi and Kutaisi Day Care Centers. Children with special needs often experience problems with sensory integration that can limit their future independence in everyday life (i. e. eating, getting dressed, bathing and so on). ey �nd it difficult to adapt to their environment without assistance due to hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sensory inputs, or problems with coordination and movement. A child may have problems with balance and fall frequently, for example when going up or down stairs, or may have difficulty learning or using skills such as writing, drawing, using scissors or other tools.
Sensory integration is a neurological process when sensory input from the body and the environment is transmitted to the central nervous system, which then receives this information and coordinates behavior. Sensory integration helps us learn and perform the tasks of everyday life. ey enhance a child's sensory integration and are keys to their overall development. A basic principle of sensory integration theory suggests working with children using games, as they learn about themselves and the surrounding world by playing.
A child with a sensory integration disorder cannot adapt to their environment and might experience problems related to attention de�cit, hyperactivity, learning difficulties, challenging behavior, lack of social relations, uncoordinated movements, etc.
First Step Georgia offers children an individual Sensory Integration Program in a special Sensory Room that has objects and toys and audiovisual materials. e goal of the Program is to help children learn appropriate reactions to auditory, visual, olfactory, taste and tactile inputs so they can use these skills in their everyday environment.
In order to provide quali�ed Sensory Integration Program Occupational therapists of First Step Georgia took an online course at the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Foundation that is a world leader in research, education, and advocacy. FSG purchased the Assessment Toolkit and Working Guidelines for Children with Sensory Dysfunction developed by SPD Foundation professionals.
e DevelopmentalSigni�cance of SensoryIntegration
On 18 December First Step Georgia organized its Winter Charity Gala Concert and Dinner attended by 300 guests who, by their presence and participation, expressed support to children and teenagers with disabilities aged under 18 from socially vulnerable families for whom participation in the programs offered by First Step Georgia is critically important.
e evening consisted of several parts: a concert by young virtuoso pianist Beka Gochiashvili also featuring young Georgian singer Natalia Kutateladze and a well-known Georgian musician, Tamaz Kurashvili; an auction of the works of art and a lottery.
e 2013 Charity Gala drew a wide response and attracted many supporters - a fact worth noting. is year's Gala was unprecedented as it raised more funds for the organization than any of such events in previous years - GEL 86 000. All proceeds will be used for the bene�t of the children with special needs who participate in First Step Georgia's programs.
Radisson Blu Iveria - General Sponsor
Bank of Georgia - the country's leading bank - was the Platinum Sponsor of the event.
e Gulf company was its Gold Sponsor.
McLain Association for Children was its Silver Sponsor.
We thank everyone who attended our event. ank you for building an inclusive society together!
e 2013 WinterGala Concert -Building an inclusivesociety together
19First Step GeorgiaAnnual Newsletter 201318
On 18 December First Step Georgia organized its Winter Charity Gala Concert and Dinner attended by 300 guests who, by their presence and participation, expressed support to children and teenagers with disabilities aged under 18 from socially vulnerable families for whom participation in the programs offered by First Step Georgia is critically important.
e evening consisted of several parts: a concert by young virtuoso pianist Beka Gochiashvili also featuring young Georgian singer Natalia Kutateladze and a well-known Georgian musician, Tamaz Kurashvili; an auction of the works of art and a lottery.
e 2013 Charity Gala drew a wide response and attracted many supporters - a fact worth noting. is year's Gala was unprecedented as it raised more funds for the organization than any of such events in previous years - GEL 86 000. All proceeds will be used for the bene�t of the children with special needs who participate in First Step Georgia's programs.
Radisson Blu Iveria - General Sponsor
Bank of Georgia - the country's leading bank - was the Platinum Sponsor of the event.
e Gulf company was its Gold Sponsor.
McLain Association for Children was its Silver Sponsor.
We thank everyone who attended our event. ank you for building an inclusive society together!
e 2013 WinterGala Concert -Building an inclusivesociety together
• Reg Charity in Ireland as First Step Georgia in IrelandChildren of Caucasus • e Next Step CHY 139565 Clanwilliam Square, Dublin 2, Ireland • Tel: (353) 16619911E-mail: [email protected]
www.�rststepgeorgia.org
• Reg Charity in England and Wales:First Step Georgia in UK#1109599, 40 Uverdale Road, London SW 10OSRTel: (44) 7989 982955 • E-mail: [email protected]
