RESEARCH OF NEEDS OF PERSONS

WITH DISABILITIES
Rustavi city, Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti Municipalities

Tbilisi
2016

Project funded by the

European Union

Project funded by the Open Society Georgian Foundation

The research was done by non-governmental organization Partnership for

Human Rights within the EU and Open Society Georgia Foundation Supporting the right and opportunity of the persons with disabilities to participate through the bodies of the local self-governments in Georgia. The project is implemented by non-governmental organizations: Article 42 of the
Constitution, Partnership for Human Rights and Accessible Environment
for Everyone.
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European
Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
The views, opinions and statements expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs only and do not necessarily reflect the position
of Open Society Georgia Foundation. Therefore, the Open Society Georgia
Foundation is not responsible for the content of the information material.

Author of the research: Nana Gochiashvili

Participants of the research preparation: Ana Arganasvhili,
Ana Abashidze
Translated by: Tengiz Nozadze

Table of Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................................................1
I. Basic finding.........................................................................................................................3
1. Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities.........................................................3
2. Rustavi city municipality...........................................................................................4
II. Thematic research needs of persons with disabilities living in Ozurgeti city and
Ozurgeti municipalities.......................................................................................................6
1. Availibility of physical environment.....................................................................6
2. Adapted Transport......................................................................................................8
3. Employment ..............................................................................................................10
4. Parking rules................................................................................................................11
5. Attitude of society towards persons with disabilities.................................11
5.1. Individual case.................................................................................................13
6. Availability of rehabilitation services.................................................................13
7. Involvement in community life...........................................................................14
8. Retraining courses for parents...............................................................................15
9. Level of awareness of the activities of self-government............................15
10. Programs of local self-government for persons with disabilities.........15
III. Thematic research needs of persons with disabilities living in Rustavi city
municipality...........................................................................................................................16
1. Availibility of physical environment.................................................................16
2. AdaptedTransport.....................................................................................................18
3. Employment ..............................................................................................................19
4. The right to education............................................................................................20
5. Pre-school education...............................................................................................21
6. Cultural and sport activities..................................................................................22
7. Rehabilitation/Habilitation services...................................................................22
8. Space of day care center..........................................................................................23
9. The lack of vouchers of day care center...............................................................24
10. Family assistant/ Home care service..................................................................24
11. Attitude of society..................................................................................................25
12. Independent living................................................................................................25
13. Accessibility of information................................................................................25
14. Statistics....................................................................................................................26

IV. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................26
IV. Recommendations........................................................................................................28
1. 1 Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities..................................................28
1. 2 Ministry of Education and science of Georgia............................................29
1. 3 Ministry of Labor, Health and social Affairs of Georgia............................29
2. 1 Rustavi city municipality......................................................................................29
2. 2. Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.........................30
2. 3. Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia...........................................30

Introduction
The research report reviews the needs of persons with disabilities living in
Rustavi city, Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities. The basic problems
that need the local self-governments to be involved and to put in action the
long-term result-oriented projects are described by the persons with disabilities, their parents and the organizations of the persons with disabilities in this
work. The respondents analyze barriers that prevent them from inclusion in
the activities of the bodies of self-governments and evaluate obstacles that
must be solved to support independence and ensure involvement in society
of the persons with disabilities.
The goals of the research is to describe the needs of persons with disabilities in Rustavi city, Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities, that stipulate
the effectiveness of their inclusion in the decision-making processes of local
self-governments or represent an obstacle in the mentioned direction and to
determine the barriers that should be eliminated to support their independence and ensure their involvement in self-government activities, to evaluate the effectiveness of the active programs of the target municipalities from
the perspective of protecting rights of persons with disabilities.
The research was done using qualitative research methods: focus-groups
and in-depth interviews. 4 focus-group meetings were held in Ozurgeti city
and Ozurgeti municipalties. One with local non-governmental organizations,
one with parents of persons with disabilities and two with persons with disabilities. 4 focus-group meetings were held in Rustavi City municipality: One
with non-governmental organizations working on the problems of persons
with disabilities, one with parents of persons with disabilities and two with
persons with disabilities.
11 individual interviews were taken in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities: One with the representatives of the organization of persons with
disabilities, one with the representative of local non-governmental organization working on women rights, six with the persons with disabilities and
three with the parents of the persons with disabilities. 11 in-depths interviews were taken in Rustavi city municipality: two with the representative
local non-governmental organization, five with persons with disabilities and
four with parents of persons with disabilities.

Research issues:
What are the local resources, that could ensure the active inclusion of
persons with disabilities in the activities of local self-governments;
Collect data how frequently and in what form did the persons with
disabilities have the experience of communication with local
self-governments;
Identification of the level of awareness of the function of self-government and the importance of their own role;
To identify the needs of persons with disabilities. With the purpose of
further advocacy to separate out those issues that are important for
their rights protection;
The research consists of five basic chapters. The main findings of the research
are given in the first chapter. Its goal is to birefly introduce to the reader that
basic needs, that according to the respodents mostly violate the rights of
persons with disabilities in the target municipalities of the research.
The second chapter consists of thematic research The needs of persons
with disabilities in Ozurgeri city and Ozurgeti municipalities, that contains
following sub-chapters: Availability of physical environment, adapted transport, employment, parking rules, attitude of society to the persons with disabilities, accessibility of rehabilitation services, involvement in community
life, retraining courses for the parents, level of awareness of the activities of
self-government, programs of local self-governments for persons with disabilities.
The third chapter contains thematic analysis of persons with disabilities in
Rustavi city municipality and consists of the following sub-chapters: Availability of the physical environment, adapted transport, education rights,
pre-school education, cultural and sport activities, rehabilitation/habilitation
services, day center space, insufficient number of day center voucher, family
assistance/home care services, society attitude, independent life, access to
information, statistics.
The fourth and fifth chapters represent the summary of the results of the
research and a list of recommendations that were developed by the research
group and respondents.

Due to the lack of research practice in this field and the actuality of the issue,
this research will be interesting as for the persons with disability, their parents and organizations of persons with disabilities, also for the local self-governments of the target municipalities, whose direct liabilities are to solve the
problems mentioned by the persons with disabilities during this research.

I. Basic findings
1. Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities
In regard of availability of physical environment the main obstacle for the
persons with disabilities is non adapted environment in the department of
social service;
The non adapted environment completely excludes participation of persons
with disabilities in the activities of self-government bodies;
Due to the non-adapted environment the persons with disabilities cannot
use the services of primary health care;
Because of the non-adapted environment children with disabilities cant get
general and pre-school education;
In regard of availability of physical environment the problem is the independent use of washrooms by children with disabilities in institutions of general
education;
Because of the non-adapted environment children with disabilities usually
are involved in home-studying programs and therefore their parents usually
cant work;
The obstacle to independent living of persons with disabilities is absence of
adapted public transport either in the city or between village and regional
center;
Due to the non-adapted municipal transport the rights of children with disabilities to get education are usually violated;
The appropriate programs for employment of persons with disabilities in the
municipalities are not working;

To eliminate the problem of employment part of persons with disabilities try

self-employment but the problem is the realization of the product made by
them;
The obstacle in the process of employment of the persons with disabilities is
the attitude of employees of local self-governments towards them, as they
think of this as secondary issue;
The obstacle to the independent living of persons with disabilities is the attitude of society towards them;
Children with disabilities often become victims of bullying at school and
there is no corresponding reaction;
In pre-school educational institutions children with disabilities are left out
from the educational process, there are no inclusive educational standards
in municipalities;
There are no parking places in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities and
because of this persons with disabilities have problems of movement;
In Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities there are no programs that include inclusion of persons with disabilities in society;
In Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities there are no services of early development and rehabilitation for children with disabilities;
Besides one-time aids there are no programs with long-term perspectives of
solving problems of persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti
municipalities;
Persons with disabilities have no information about in which forms and how
they can be involved in activities of local self-government;

2. Rustavi city municipality

Besides day care center there are no rehabilitation services for children with
disabilities in Rustavi city municipality;
The problem in the process of rehabilitation of children with disabilities is the
lack of qualified staff;

In terms of inclusion of persons with disabilities in society the problem is

availability of sports and cultural facilities;
In Rustavi city municipality one of the day care centers is not able to provide
corresponding services for beneficiaries because of absence of appropriate
area;
Because of absence of vouchers part of children with disabilities in Rustavi
city municipality wait for years for free space in day care center;
The issue of employment of persons with disabilities is a serious problem in
terms of promoting independent living of persons with disabilities;
In Rustavi city municipality there are no employment programs for persons
with disabilities;
Part of persons with disabilities try self-employment but they cant realize
their products;
In Rustavi city municipality educational rights of children with special needs
are violated because of non-adapted physical environment and inner and
outer infrastructure of school;
Negative attitude of school administration and absence of corresponding
specialists and resources interfere children with disabilities to get general
knowledge;
Children with disabilities in Rustavi city municipality cant get inclusive preschool education because of non-adapted physical environment, absence of
specialists and lack of awareness of educators;
A problem for local self-governments in protection of rights of persons with
disabilities is absence of corresponding statistics provided by self-government;
Persons with disabilities and their parents in Rustavi city have a need of
home-care program;
In terms of protecting rights of persons with disabilities there is still a problem of attitude of society towards them;
For people without vision in Rustavi city the problem is absence of alterna-

tive forms for getting public information;

There is no adapted municipal transport in Rustavi city;
As the research revealed there is need of adapted transport both inside the
city and towards Tbilisi;
Because of the non-adapted environment the majority of public and private
institutions are actually inaccessible for persons with disabilities;
In the process of independent movement of persons with disabilities the
problem is not only the availability of facilities but also the barriers at street
crossings and squares;

II. Thematic research needs of persons with disabilities

living in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities
1. Availibility of physical environment
Persons with disabilities living in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities
name the main obstacle while participating in the activities of self-government as the problem of availability of physical environment. Non-adapted
environment actually makes it unable for persons using a wheelchair or with
physical movement problems to enter public facilities.
As a person with disabilities living in Ozurgeti city municipality declares
the main problem in terms of the availability of physical environment is a
non-adapted environment of social service department. According to the respondent, persons with disabilities most frequently have to go to the department of social service in order to get involved in state sub-programs. Because
of the non-adapted environment they are obliged to receive service in the
streets:
I went to the agency. As I could not enter the building independently they called
me from above that they would come and provide service down. However I dont
want to receive service outsides. I wanted to get inside myself and clarify the issue. For my protest they usually answer that there isnt time for ramps when people are so distressful Person with disability.

Non-adapted environment fully excludes persons with disabilities from participating in the activities of self-governments. Actually the building of Ozurgeti city council has ramps, but because of violation of standards people
with wheelchairs are not able to use them independently. At the same time
by using the ramps its only possible to get on the first floor where you can
just hand in an application and the meetings of city council and commissions
are held on the second floor. According to a person with wheelchairs despite
several attempts to enter the city council, he cant do it without help:
Once I went to the city council. As I couldnt enter, the council chairman went
down and tried to clear up a situation. Then I suggested him to sit in my chair and
try to go upstairs with these ramps. They are made so that if someone doesnt
help you will fall down - Person with disability.
As an answer to the question for the main problem of persons with disabilities in the municipality the respondents name the issue of availability of
environment that still remains an insuperable obstacle in Ozurgeti city and
Ozurgeti municipalities and they think that this issue is an obligation of the
local self-government:
At this stage I would single out as a main problem the absence of ramps that
makes big troubles for us. For example, I usually have to buy drugs and there is no
adapted chemists-shop in Ozurgeti. So I usually have to ask someone for help, or
go to the chemists-shop and then use someones help to enter it. Several ramps
have been recently installed at some buildings but none of them corresponds to
the standards and therefore we still need help to enter these buildings - Person
with disability.
Because of the non-adapted environment in Ozurgeti people with wheelchairs usually have to receive service or clarify an issue using telephone or
they go to the building and get information in a car:
It often happens that when I go to the self-government institution and cant get
inside then the staff comes outside and if I am in car I get service there or in the
street. If I only need to get information then I usually use telephone service A
person with disability using wheel chair and living in Ozurgeti.
Children with disabilities and living in Ozurgeti usually cant get qualitative
education because of the non-adapted environment. As a result of their parents activities ramps were installed at the school in village Dvabzu, but because of the violation of standards they cant use the ramps independently:

One child with disability from village Dvabzu could not go to school because of
the non-adapted environment. We, the parents, got active and pushed ultimatums towards the self-government to help in the problem-solving. The ramps
were installed but in such manner that children still need someone for help Parent of a child with disability.
Because of the absence of inner infrastructure of school buildings children
with disabilities still have problems of getting education in Ozurgeti municipality. Parents of children with disabilities think of non-adapted washrooms
as a special problem:
Financially we are very poor. Its true that a child has his own 100 GEL, but this
amount is fully needed for pampers. I dont want him to stay uneducated. My
child uses a wheelchair and there is no ramps at school. I can help him to get
inside but the main problem is the non-adapted washrooms - Parent of a child
with disability.
Non-adapted educational and living environment in Ozurgeti city municipality makes problems not only for children with disabilities, but also for their
family members. Because of the non-adapted school buildings their parents
actually are unable to get employed themselves because their children need
permanent help:
My child has cerebral palsy. We are just two at home me and my child. I dont
even have the corresponding family environment for him to move independently. A year ago, our state gave me a wheelchair, but there is no corresponding environment nor at home neither at school so that my child could move using a
wheelchair. My child now gets education at home, teachers come to our house,
because if I send him to school I will have to be with him all time because there
is not corresponding environment at school. Only I work, I am a teacher and if I
am with him at school all time I will have to stop working. They promised recently
that ramps will be installed at our school, but washrooms are still non-adapted
and at the same time we need transport to get to school. There is no adapted
transport in Ozurgeti city. This is why my child cant get education with his peers
- Parent of a child with disability.

2. Adapted transport
A serious problem for ensuring the independent living of people with physical movement problems living in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipality is

absence of adapted public transport as within the city so between village

and regional center. Because of the non-adapted environment people with
disabilities usually cant get to the social service centers, where they have to
write statements to get some support:
I need a wheelchair to go outside. Two years have passed since I cant use my old
wheelchair, but I wasnt able to go and write statement. I cant go outside myself.
Someone must help to go to the yard. I need a taxi or go to the city. I dont have
enough money for that A person with disability.
Absence of adapted transport is a problem for persons with disabilities living
in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipality, thats why their independent living cant be promoted:
Mostly I am disturbed because of inability to move within the city. We need
adapted transport. For example I want to go into the city independently and I
cant. It was only once when the local self-government allocated transport for
center, minibus, but even that is non-adapted. A person with disabilities cant use
it without help A person with disability.
The right of children with disabilities to get general knowledge is violated
because of absence of non-adapted transport in Ozurgeti municipality. This
is a special problem for children with disabilities living in the villages of Ozurgeti municipality, where because of absence of asphalt its difficult to move
on long distances:
My child is 15 years old and studies at a village school, but we have problems of
attending school. We dont have our own transport, its two years since the local self-government has been promising to help, but nothing has been done yet.
Now we expect to get a wheelchair. I cant transport him to school without it. Last
year a teacher used to come to our house for a while. This year they havent done
even this. Soon well get a wheelchair but even with a wheelchair its difficult to
cover long distances on village roads, because there is no asphalt and especially
its difficult during bad weather Parent of a child with disability.
Some schools in Ozurgeti municipality have service of transporting but because of non-adapted transport it is absolutely useless for children with disabilities;
My child is in the first class now. He has cerebral palsy, he cant move, but he loves
studying very much and studies very well. My second child is one and a half years

old and I am needed very much for him too. However, because of the non-adapted transport and school building I am permanently needed at school. School bus
comes and takes children to school, but its non-adapted and I cant seat my child
there. He asks me to go to school every day Parent of a child with disability.

3. Employment
The problem of employment is an obstacle to the full integration of persons
with disabilities in society in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities. Because of problems of employment in public or private institutions persons
with disabilities often try self-employment, they make different products but
their further realization is problematic:
I can make beads quite well, I also can knit. I want to be able to sell them but we
dont have such possibilities at this stage Person with disability.
According to the persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city municipality the
main problem for them is employment. Its true that some people get temporarily employed but just in projects of non-governmental organizations that
end up quickly and arent stable:
We were a lot of children that grew up in the center, we got education, some of
us even finished a college but we cant find job. Myself I got severally employed
in projects of non-governmental organizations but they ended and now I sit at
home Person with disability.
During the research persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities used to underline that a serious problem for their employment is the attitude of the staff of self-government. They often think of employment of people with disabilities as secondary problem:
I have often heard: Theres not time for your employment, we have to employ
healthy people at first. But lets take into consideration that people with disabilities need more attention. Their unemployment and unrealization shifts to their
families and all this is such a problematic chain that possibly it should be the obligation of the state to solve this problem. Promotion of persons with disabilities,
their realization, employment and involvement in society must become a priority
Person with disability.
According to the persons with disabilities that participated in this research

10

the problem is that the local self-government doesnt even know the number
of persons with disabilities living on their territory, level of their education,
how their resources can be used. In addition to pointing out the problem
they also speak of ways of problem-solving and their importance:
We dont know how many persons with disabilities are employed, how many
have higher education, what professions do they own. These people dont know
how to sell their labor in the discriminative environment that exists among employers. I would start from the organizations that do the state orders. Actually
there is no serious business that is developing without state purchases. I would
rise quota a bit, by telling them to hire this number of people, of course in reasonable manner. How many millions were spent in agricultural sphere. There is such
a large number of people with hearing problems that can freely work physically. This would be motivation for these people. If they employed 100 people, how
many people would be promoted for development. They can arrange a business
forum, where they could show facts of employment of persons with disabilities
and businessmen could see how their resources can be used Person with disability.

4. Parking rules
According to the persons with disabilities one of the serious problems in their
municipality is the absence of parking spaces that makes serious troubles for
their movement:
There are no parking places in our city, neither for persons with disabilities nor
ordinary parking places. I remember one case when I wanted to buy some goods.
My friend took me to the market, we stopped the car, but police came and warned
us that it was not allowed to stop car there because the parking lines were not
painted. We stopped at the most comfortable place for me to get out from the
car Person with disability.

5. Attitude of society towards persons with disabilities

To the question about which obstacles occur to the promotion of involvement and independent living of persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and
Ozurgeti municipalities children with disabilities and their parents answer
that in addition to the physical environment and non-adapted transport the
problem is the attitude of society towards people with disabilities:

11

Many were surprised to see me at school. They didnt expect that I would have
such good results. Everyone thought that I had to get education at home because I was a person with disability Person with disability.
According to the persons with disabilities that took participation in the research they notice different attitude from society, theres mockery, compassion and surprise when they see people with disabilities in educational institutions or public places:
When they see me in the street, I often hear phrases Such a pity! Everyone has his
minuses Persons with disability
Parents single out bullying at school, that often happens towards children
with disabilities and they think that teachers and parents must be informed
to solve this problem:
It often happens, that children dont want to go to school because they were ridiculed. Development of teachers and parents is very important. Some teachers
say, why are you bringing your children to school, why are you torturing them
Parent of a child with disability.
Because of the not adequate reaction from the school administration on the
case of bullying towards children with disabilities, parents had to take their
children out from school:
One of my children went to school. Other children made fun of him, although I
wanted him very much to study with other children. Because the school administration didnt manage to solve this problem I was obliged to take my child out
from school and now teachers are coming to our house Parent of a child with
disability.
Parents of children with disabilities that participate in the research talk about
ways of solving the problem of involvement of children with disabilities in
the education process of kindergartens in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities. According to them children with disabilities are left beyond the
process as usual:
For our children it is important to be fully involved in kindergartens. As I see these
children are rejected from others, educators arent interested in their development. Usually they dont give the same home work as they do to other children.
They give them a pencil and paper, make them sit somewhere not to disturb oth-

12

ers Parent of a child with disability.

5.1. Individual case

I was absolutely closed off, I thought the life has ended and totally gave up.
I was at school-age when I started using a wheelchair. There was not possibility,
environment to go to school so the teachers used to come to our house. When I
finished school I intended to enter college, but I met big problems. Everyone told
that it had no sense for me to continue studying. Then I discovered that the college where I had to study did not have the ramps and it would be difficult for me
to go there, we didnt have car and there was no transport towards it. Despite
these obstacles I didnt deny my intention and filed the application. I was one of
the first people in our city to continue studying in college.
Despite the fact that I couldnt go up on higher floors of the college, students used
to help me and I managed to continue studying. At first I had great fear, how
my college classmates would accept me, but fortunately my environment was
exception, there were no events made without me, I participated everywhere. All
this should be put down to my college classmates credit.
Although this college is still functioning, as I know there have not went any other
persons with disabilities. This was just my endeavour.
Despite the fact that I was involved in every event just like my classmates and I
studied like them, sometimes the professors still had attitude like pity. I remember on occasion. One professor came from Tbilisi, when he saw my wheelchair he
offered me that he would rewrite the tests and answers for me. I felt very badly at
that moment, I got angry. I said I wanted to pass the exams just like others did.
My answer surprised him.

6. Availability of rehabilitation services

As an answer to the question about the main problem that disturbs children
with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities and that should
be solved by the self-government the parents named absence of rehabilitation centers and early development programs:
The biggest problem for our children is that none of the rehabilitation centers
are functioning in our municipality. We, the parents, have one wish to have some

13

kind of rehabilitation center, where children should be able to get service from
the corresponding specialist. Those who have opportunity take their children
once in three months to Tbilisi but this is not enough. And majority of children
cant do even this. There is just one day care center in the city and it obviously
cant serve everyone, moreover when its profile isnt the promotion of early development Parent of a child with disability.
According to the respondents, children with disabilities and their parents
that participated in the research, a serious problem is absence of corresponding specialists in the city:
Majority of children needs service of speech therapist. There are three regions in
Guria but theres no occupational therapist. We would undergo difficulties and
somehow get the service Parent of a child with disability.

7. Involvement in community life

According to the persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities, the most important for them is to have possibility of involvement
in different spheres of community life. As they say the local self-government
is absolutely passive in this direction and no programs are implemented.
They can remember just one case when the local government allocated
some funds to take people with disabilities to excursion. But according to
the respondents this is not stable and result-oriented program that would
ensure long-term involvement of persons with disabilities in society:
Our main request to the local self-government is to create conditions for us to
go outside, contact people, take part in every event that is held in the municipality. People see us rarely and thats the reason why they look at us with pity and
sometimes with aggression. If they saw us every day this uncomfortable moment
would disappear and their attitude would change.
Because of the obstacles in the city I am coming outside so rarely that even little
changes makes me very happy. It was only once when the local self-government
took several people to the excursion. Its important for us to create such programs
that would make possible for us to go outside and the most important in it is to
be available for everyone A person with disability.

14

8. Retraining courses for parents

According to the parents of children with disabilities that took part in the
research the governments priority should be retraining of parents. As they
say, they have practical knowledge and if theoretical knowledge is added it
would be a good basis in terms of parents employment and more effective
attitude to their children:
I worked at school. I am a teacher of mathematics. Then I was needed for my child
and I had to leave. If they consider my experience as a teacher and relationship
with my child and arrange retraining for me, it would be better for me, my child
and others, as I could work with my child more effectively. I did several trainings
on my own initiative, I am always attentive to what happens in this direction in
our city Parent of a child with disability.

9. Level of awareness of the activities of self-government

One of the study issues of the research was to determine the level of awareness of persons with disabilities and their parents of the activities of self-government. Particularly what information did they have about the activities of
government, their obligations and competencies that are linked to solving
the problems of persons with disabilities. According to the respondents that
participated in the research they have never been informed about self-government role, obligations and forms of demanding to solve the problems
that occur daily:
Actually we never get any information. As we know, this is a new issue. We never
had some trainings and there was no attempt to give us some information. That
general knowledge that weve had till today is from non-governmental organizations. One we know, that existing social problems must be solved partially by
local self-government. This is the only information that we own A person with
limited liability.

10. Programs of local self-government for persons with disabilities

To the question about how they would evaluate the programs and budget
planning process of local self-government in terms of problems of persons
with disabilities, the respondents answered that local self-government of

15

Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities reflects problems of persons with

disabilities in budget development process only in single dozes and doesnt
have long-term programs for existing problems:
How can they grant just one-time assistance for solving the problems that we are
facing. We hope that the local self-government will understand soon that they
need advisors in these issues. How can they limit with one-time assistance. They
should have some money in budget for persons with disabilities. Its possible that
someone doesnt need one-time help but someone needs help three times, what
do we do then? I helped you once and its over? I strongly disagree. Budget must
be calculated in long-term. They have aids for drugs in self-governments, I agree,
but there also must be differences, for what are these one-time assistances dedicated? Person with disabilities.
According to the persons with disabilities that participated in the research
the local self-government is spending funds inappropriately. Truly there are
one-time assistances but they dont actually solve problems:
The worst thing is that actually big amount of money is spent on persons with
disabilities but inappropriately. We dont see real result A person with disability.

III. Thematic research needs of persons with disabilities

living in Rustavi city municipality
1. Availability of physical environment
Non-adapted physical environment is an insuperable obstacle for persons
with disabilities in Rustavi city municipality. Thats why every public or private
institution is actually inaccessible for them.
Part of people with disabilities has been actively trying to raise this question
at a self-government level, they make statements, but as they say no person
has appeared to start working on this issue:
If there is no state will nothing will happen. When you go to the staff of self-government, they make promises but do nothing. I have left letter at the CIC, I even
was a member of commission and the building was non-adapted. The primary

16

problem is that the environment should be adapted, at least two buses must be
adapted. We are only few people that come outsides and dont take current environment into consideration, but majority is sitting at home. I have been working,
trying for years but nothing will change if the government doesnt do something
in response. At first we must think about the adaptation of environment. Some
of us may have a profession but how will he get to the working place. The second
issue is employment, we must first get to that point Person with disability.
According to the persons with disabilities in Rustavi city the arrangement of
adapted environment is a primary need, without which itll be impossible to
talk about education, employment and involvement in society:
The primary problem is still infrastructure. This is the thing that mostly disturbs
every person with disability, because without this you cant go outside, study, get
employed, get to the medical institution, meet friend, go for fun. This must be priority for the local self-government. They should make adapted transport, roads,
ramps that will make movement easier for us Person with disability.
As persons with disabilities say the only solution to this is that every new
building must be licensed with the obligation of universal design. They say
that this is included in the law, but its not executed in practice:
Nowadays there are big investments for development of infrastructure in Rustavi
city. The obligation of universal design must be included in the license of every
building from the beginning. They often say its expensive, but they never substantiate that, just speak. I have went to several construction works but no one
gets interested in this problem. Thats because the government doesnt obligate
them Person with disability.
During the research a person with disability remembered that once he
couldnt take his own salary because of the non-adapted physical environment:
I couldnt find such job, such as bank or pharmacy, that would have obligation
of adaptation from the beginning of construction work. When they already start
building and you go with request, they say its too late. In the past I worked at
the adapted corporation in Tbilisi, salary was transferred to TBC bank. As they
saw I was their consumer, the ATM was inside and I needed at least two people
to help me get inside. I addressed them and they didnt answer A person with
disability.

17

According to the respondents, in addition to buildings the problem in Rustavi city is infrastructure, obstacles at street crossings and park entrances. As
they say, the main problem is that the issue of accessibility is not considered
even during the process of planning new rehabilitation works:
The kerb-stones on Leonidze street were made in such way that we couldnt get
over them. As soon as I saw it I rushed to the city hall, brought main architect, he
offered to take actions but went away and nothing was done. They were doing
big kerb-stones on my street too but team-leader turned out to be a wise man
and paid attention to that. This must be systematic, they must take this issue into
consideration from the beginning, I cant track everyone. The orders must come
from the self-government A person with disability.

2. Adapted transport
Non-adapted transport disturbs the independent living of persons with disabilities in Rustavi city municipality and especially of those who have movement problems. Because of the location of Rustavi city many people study
and get employed in Tbilisi, so there is need of adapted transport as inside
the city so between Rustavi and Tbilisi. According to the persons with disabilities they had meeting with the officials about these problems, nothing
was achieved with negotiations, so they addressed them officially but the
problem is still unsolved:
At first I used to go to the city mayor and head of council myself but it had no
results. Then I started to write official letters but there was no answer. I understand that all problems cant be solved together and every single transport cant
be adapted, but at least two should still be. I will know traffic schedule and plan
everything according to it A person with disability.
Because of the non-adapted transport majority of persons with disabilities in
Rustavi city cant come outside for months. The only way for moving within
the city is a Taxi, but persons with disability cant use them, because their
basic income is social benefit:
During the day I often want to go to other district, but do you know how I am?
I am exactly like held in leash. I cant cover Taxi, my pension isnt sufficient even
for food and hygiene products, and even if I had money I still would have to sit
in car, get our, put a wheelchair in the trunk. Often Taxi work on Gas and there
is not enough space for a wheelchair. I dont have complaints towards taxi driv-

18

ers, everyone treats me well, they think of it as ordinary thing. They have human
attitude, think of me as ordinary passenger. The only problem is that there is not
enough space for a wheelchair in every trunk. That problem in the city makes a
big barrier for me. Myself I am a very active person. I want to go to the market, I
love movies, theatre, but I cant go there Person with disability.

3. Employment
As an answer to the question about the main obstacle to the promotion of
independent living of persons with disabilities in Rustavi city municipality
the majority of respondents named employment. As a parent of person with
disability said, people after eighteen are left absolutely without functions:
One boy with a wheelchair is my neighbor, he finished school, professional institution, but he havent been able to find job for years. Now I see hi started drinking
and hell get even in more difficult situation. I dont want my child to get in the
same situation Parent of a child with disability.
According to a parent of a person with disability, they addressed the local
government to promote employment, but without results, despite the fact
that her son owns the profession of outdoor landscaping and there is real
demand on his profession:
My son wants to get employed very much. Everyone that I and he addressed does
nothing. He finished professional institution, specialty of outdoor landscaping.
Let it be even a small park, if they allocate he can fully arrange it. There is nothing
in such a big district to bring child outside and stroll a little. If the city hall helps
a little, even with seedlings, then well arrange everything and these children will
also get employed. At least one child should get employed. There are so many
new firms, enterprises. We went to the head of the department of landscaping
but our meeting had no result Parent of a person with disability.
Part of persons with disabilities in Rustavi city try self-employment. They
make different things but cant realize them:
I am 22 years old now, I finished school and go to the day care center. I can do
many things, I paint well, make beads with my design, weave carpets, but I cant
sell them so far. I need help in this direction very much, or some job where I can
use my knowledge Person with disability.

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Parents of persons with disabilities say that employment is the only opportunity and guarantee for their children to live independently in the future,
when they have no parents and will have look after themselves. So they think
that the local government should set the employment of persons with disabilities as a priority:
I have never addressed the local self-government when my child was little. Hes
now adult and I dont see other solutions. The self-government must get involved
in the employment of these people. When we are no more alive they shall have
some future, live independently. I dont ask something special, just something in
the range of their individual possibilities, just anything. The most important for
them is to have their own income Parent of a person with disability.
Until there is no adapted transport and physical environment for part of the
persons with disabilities in Rustavi city even the work that can be done at
home is acceptable:
I have a problem of employment. I will do everything I can. I own computer at
quite high level. If theres adapted environment itll be no problem to go outside.
I cant move independently now. In this case job at home will be acceptable for
me Person with disability.
Parents of the persons with disabilities that participated in the research think
that in addition to the non-adapted environment the problem in terms of
employment is the absence of employment policy in self-government:
There are complex problems in the direction of employment. Besides the
non-adapted environment, the main problem is the absence of employment
policy. The sounds about new quotas in private companies were just spread but
no one knows whether they correspond to the truth, where they came from, than
they start ringing, determining whether its true or not Parent of a person with
disability.

4. The right to education

The rights of education of children with special needs in Rustavi city are violated because of the non-adapted physical environment. The problem is also
infrastructure of schools, that are totally inaccessible for children:
Its second year since my child actually hasnt gone to school. He wants to study

20

but there are such barriers that he doesnt want to overcome them every day. We
are close to the school, but the road is arranged so that a car may hit him, and the
inner road is in very bad condition. There is no appropriate entrance, sometimes
other children help him, there are three steps and he suffers much. Particularly there are no schools with adapted environment for children with disabilities.
Often other children pay attention but this doesnt happen regularly. The school
bell may ring and everyone cant wait for him. And he already became self-respecting. You dont always enjoy asking others for help Parent of a child with
disability.
According to the parents of children with disabilities that participated in the
research the negative attitude of school administration and absence of corresponding specialists and resources prevent children with special needs from
getting education:
There was no resource-room in the school to bring children for a while. There was
no special professor. It was difficult for the children to sit at the same place for
6 lectures. Director was disposed aggressively to the fact that we brought children to his school. They didnt ask where to take our children, the old school was
dissolved and we came where they allocated us. So I had to find a new school
with resource-room and the director met us with pleasure. At the old school they
didnt let them even to attend the lectures, children were in the corridors. My child
finally refused to go to school Parent of a child with disability.

5. Pre-school education
According to the results of the research children with disabilities in Rustavi
city municipality dont get qualitative inclusive pre-school education. By the
opinion of the parents of the children with disabilities that participated in the
research the reason for this is non-adapted environment, absence of appropriate specialists in kindergartens and lack of awareness of educators:
I know almost every child of kindergarten age and almost none of them go to
kindergarten. There is just one kindergarten at the Rustavi center of persons with
disabilities, where only children with disabilities go. There are several reasons to
this: One is absolutely non-adapted environment and second is that specialists
know absolutely nothing about inclusive education Parent of a child with disability.

21

6. Cultural and sport activities

According to the persons with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities that participated in the research the accessibility of cultural and
sport activities and absence of corresponding institutions is a problem for
the involvement of persons with disabilities in society in Rustavi city municipality:
There are no sport or cultural activities in Rustavi. If there are some rare events I
cant attend them because of unavailability of transport and environment. There
are two swimming pools in Rustavi. We addressed the Rustavi city hall several
times to allocate several places or make adaptation, but without results A person with disability.
According to the parent of a child with disability that participated in the research the issue of accessibility of sport and cultural activities is particularly
important in summer period. As they say, the majority of families that have
children with disabilities dont have enough money to take their children out
of town in summer, so the only way out is that there must be sporting rehabilitation institutions available in the city and this would somehow solve
their problems:
We cant go anywhere this summer. Many other parents are also in the same situation. The prices in the resorts are very high. So we are in Rustavi for the whole
summer. Therefore itll be good if there were sport institution, at least they could
make the swimming pool available for us, make benefits for season tickets for us
to be possible to take our children there Parent of a child with disability.

7. Rehabilitation/Habilitation services
The parents of children with disabilities living in Rustavi city that participated
in the research say that one of the serious problems is the absence of rehabilitation centers. The only such facility is the day care center. Although as
they say, the day center and its programs cant be named as rehabilitation
center and an institution necessary for the involvement of persons with disabilities in society. In addition to this the parents claim that there are much
more people in Rustavi city that need rehabilitation centers and just one day
care center cant service them all:

22

We must start from the basics of what our children need. The actual situation in
our city: The only fact is the presence of day care center where our children go.
They sit there for the whole day and then return back. Its true that there are some
activities but this is not enough for full rehabilitation. Its like a shelter for those
children that go there Parent of a child with disability.
In addition to the rehabilitation services according to the children with disabilities that participated in the research the problem is the lack of specialists
needed for rehabilitation and thats why all children with disabilities cant be
satisfied:
Our children permanently need service of psychologist, speech therapist, service
of special educator as in kindergartens so at schools and outside. With this problem we severally addressed the local self-government but usually they explain
the absence of such specialists in the kindergartens with the lack of such specialists generally and thats why additional programs of rehabilitation and early
development arent arranged. Additional funds must be allocated to invite and
retrain specialists needed for our city Parent of a child with disability.

8. Space of day care center

In 2009 the parents of children with disabilities in Rustavi city municipality
established a non-governmental organization Association of parents of children suffering from nervous disorders. In 2013 this organization was registered as supplier of service, within which 8 children get service of day care
center, take courses of social therapy, make different things for further realization. From the day of establishment the center has been functioning in the
private house of one of the parents. In 2014 the strong rain damaged the roof
of the center and its functioning became impossible. During the research the
staff of the center and the parents of children with disabilities noted that they
severally addressed Rustavi city hall and asked to allocate some space for the
center but the problem isnt solved even today.
We, the parents have one more problem, thats the problem of space of the day
care center that was established in 2013 in Rustavi city. The center was established by the initiative of the parents. At first we were functioning in the house
of one of the parents but then the rain damaged the roof and today its actually
impossible to continue functioning. Children that had been coming to our center
for two years and had an important progress are now left at home.
Earlier the city council planned to allocate some space but then at that place the

23

rehabilitation of kindergarten began and the discussion on our problem stopped.

When we go now they send us to each other and we cant solve the problem
Parent of a child with disability.

9. The lack of vouchers of day care center

According to the parents of children with disabilities that participated in the
research the problem of the lack of vouchers of day care center has been unsolved for years. As they say, there are always children that wait in queues to
get service of day care center at least:
There is one more problem that disturbs us, the parents of the children with disabilities in Rustavi city. This is the lack of voucher of day care center of Rustavi
city. We addressed the ministry of health to solve this problem. They said that
Rustavi city hall doesnt demand that. A lot of children are waiting in queues
and in the ministry they dont know it. I privately know eight such children. The
ministry claims that Rustavi doesnt demand and Rustavi says that the ministry
doesnt give finances. We, the parent went to the city hall, raised the issue, but
just speech remained and nothing was done Parent of a child with disability.

10. Family assistant / Home care service

As the interviews taken from the parents of persons with disabilities in Rustavi city revealed one part of parents especially needs home care services.
Some of them live alone with their children with disabilities and because of
their difficult condition they permanently need an assistant. They cant get
employed and so they rely only on social benefits. Besides the income these
people need specialists help but its impossible because of the absence of
such service:
My child has severe disabilities, its very difficult to look after him, he cant do anything independently. I need very much an assistant, that will look after him for a
while, so that I could work. As I have to be with him all the time, our only income
is his pension. I think the local government should create some program that will
ensure visit of assistant, specialist in such cases. Because of diabetes many my
organs were damaged, I actually have no vision and if I cant take care of my
child Im very afraid what will happen to him. I severally addressed the Rustavi
city hall, but there is no program and I havent received even one-time assistance.

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For some kind of rehabilitation of people that are at home all the time and cant
go outside the visit of specialist is very important Parent of a person with disability.

11. Attitude of society

According to the opinions of persons with disabilities and their parents the
independent living and integration of persons with disabilities in Rustavi city
is disturbed by the attitude of society that is usually based on pity:
Oh, what a pity that ruins me when they call me so. Sometimes I answer them
but when Im left alone its still very difficult for me. Not everyone can get over this
and thats why they try not to go outside Person with disability.

12. Independent living

Persons with disabilities that were interviewed in Rustavi city think that the
most important is that all programs or initiatives that the local government
will arrange must be aimed to promote their independent living and not just
one-time cash assistance that they await for years:
I dont want extra attention. Sometimes they say that everything must be done
for them because they are persons with disabilities. I dont want this, I want exactly I need, I want to look after myself independently A person with disability.

13. Accessibility of information

Persons without vision in Rustavi city say that the problem of accessibility of
public information is a serious obstacle for them. Today there is no alternative way of spreading information in Rustavi city, whether it is Braille type or
audio version:
The public information must be spread in Braille type or in audio form. Its difficult to write but in the best case the audio version would be very good. They must
have at least Braille and electronic versions, because they are easy and cheap.
Audio is more expensive because you need a studio, a reader, writer, audio editing that is expensive and takes much time. Braille and especially the electronic
form of spreading public information is very easy. Ordinarily sending by E-mail

25

should be possible A person with disability.

14. Statistics
Persons with disabilities living in Rustavi city and their parents think that
at first the local self-government must provide full statistics, determine the
number of persons with disabilities living on their territory, their needs and
then according to this information plan programs:
Statistics is a serious problem. There are a lot of issues that dont need much
money, only the attitude has to be changed but there is no the state will. For example the self-government, they should evaluate the environment, collect real
statistics, determine the needs of people.
There is some kind of general statistics but it doesnt correspond to reality. Majority of persons with disabilities are locked at home, even their neighbors dont
know anything about them. When we wanted to open a center, we, the parents
started volunteering, we were going through the streets looking for the persons
with disabilities Parent of a person with disability.

IV. Conclusion
According to the results of the research the main obstacles to the protection
of rights, promotion of independent living, involvement in the public and local self-government activities of persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city and
Ozurgeti municipalities are the unavailability of physical environment, absence of adapted municipal transport and general transport infrastructure,
among them the absence of parking spaces. At the municipal level there is
no politics of employment of the persons with disabilities. The attitude of
society remains still problematic, as its often based on pity that excludes the
chance of development and living equally with others for the persons with
disabilities.
There are no rehabilitation and early development programs for children
with disabilities in Ozurgeti and Ozurgeti municipality. There are no corresponding specialists in Guria region. The problem becomes more complicated because of the lack of the specialists that could sell their individual service
to the parents.

26

According to the research, the development of programs oriented on solving the problems of persons with disabilities during the process of municipal
program planning is a problem in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities.
Because of the non-adapted buildings of the local self-government and absence of adapted municipal transport the level of involvement of persons
with disabilities in the activities of the local self-government is very low. They
dont even have a chance to attend meeting of council/commission and state
their position.
Like Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities the main obstacles to the main
obstacles to the protection of rights, promotion of independent living, involvement in the public and local self-government activities of persons with
disabilities in Rustavi city are unavailability of physical environment and absence of adapted transport at the municipal level. In addition to the inner
structure of the buildings the problem for the independent moving of persons with disabilities in Rustavi city are outer infrastructure, street crossing
and park entrances.
The events and programs planned by the local self-governments are still limited with one-time help of persons with disabilities and they are not dedicated for the long-term perspective of problem solving. The obstacle to the promotion of independent living of persons with disabilities is also the attitude
of the society.
Needs of children with disabilities are not considered the municipal programs, thats why they cant get qualitative pre-school education. Non-adapted transport infrastructure is a general problem in the educational process.
A special problem for persons with disabilities in Rustavi city is the absence of
employment politics and that excludes the possibility for them to live independently. Majority of them is dependent on pension and help of the family.
Despite the fact that problems of the persons with disabilities are basically
the same in Ozurgeti city, Ozurgeti and Rustavi city municipalities the recommendations were developed individually for each one, considering their
individual specifics and according to the opinions of the respondents that
participated in the research and processed results of the research.

27

V. Recommendations
1. 1. Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities
The agency of social service in Ozurgeti city should be adapted according to
the individual needs of persons with disabilities of all categories;
Buildings of the city hall/administration and council of Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities should be adapted according to the individual needs of
persons with disabilities of all categories;
The rights of persons with disabilities and full adherence to current standards
should be considered while giving certificates of all types of construction;
Within their competencies the municipalities of Ozugeti city and Ozurgeti
should ensure the adaptation of the inner and outer infrastructure of schools
in accordance with the individual needs of children with disabilities of all categories;
Adapted municipal transport within the city and between the Ozurgeti city
and village should be arranged for persons with disabilities of all categories;
The Ozurgeti city hall and Ozurgeti municipality administration should develop the action plan of employment and retraining of persons with disabilities of all categories;
The program for raising public awareness of the issues of the persons with
disabilities in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities should be arranged;
There should be developed and implemented the parking system in accordance with the needs of persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti city municipality;
They should ensure the programs of rehabilitation and early development of
children with disabilities within their competency.
The needs of persons with disabilities should be considered while planning
municipal programs and the effective mechanism for their involvement in
decision making process must be ensured;

28

1.2. Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia

The inner and outer infrastructure of schools should be adapted in accordance with the individual needs of children with disabilities of all categories
in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities;
There should be arranged programs for the professional development of the
parents with the corresponding qualification.

1.3. Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia

The centers of rehabilition and early development of children with disabilities should be open in Ozurgeti city and Ozurgeti municipalities and the adequate number of vouchers should be allocated;

2.1. Rustavi City Municipality

Buildings of the city hall and council of Rustavi city municipality should be
adapted according to the individual needs of persons with disabilities of all
categories;
There must be arranged adapted transport inside the city and towards Tbilisi
for persons with disabilities of all categories;
Rustavi city hall should develop a long-term action plan for employment and
raising qualification of the persons with disabilities of all categories;
Within their competencies they should insure the creation of the programs of
rehabilitation and early development of children with disabilities;
There should be open cultural and sport institutions available for persons
with disabilities of all categories;
A space for the day care center founded by Association of parents of children
suffering from nervous disorders should be allocated;
The infrastructure of transport for getting to school and outer infrastructure
should be adapted in accordance with the individual needs of children with
disabilities of all categories to ensure their general education;

29

Pre-school inclusive educational standards should be created in the kindergartens of Rustavi city municipality;
Rustavi city hall should ensure retraining of the administration, educator and
assistance personal of kindergartens according to the individual needs of
children with disabilities of all categories;
The building of kindergarten and outer infrastructure should be in rearranged according to the needs of children with disabilities;
Rustavi city hall should ensure the detailed research of the needs of persons
with disabilities on their territory and implement effective and long-term
programs based on that research;
There must be created a program for raising the awareness of society of the
issues of the persons with disabilities in Rustavi city municipality;
Alternative ways of dissemination of information for people without vision
should be founded;

2.2. Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia

The number of vouchers of day care center of Rustavi city municipality should
be increased according to the real needs and demand;

2.3. Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia

Inner and outer infrastructures of the public schools of Rustavi city municipality should be adapted regarding the individual needs of children with
disabilities of all categories;
School administration should be informed about the individual needs of children with disabilities of all categories;
There must be allocated resource rooms in public schools according to the
needs and the specialists of corresponding quantity and competency should
be employed;

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