During self-isolation, social institutions in our region worked remotely. And today, the rehabilitation departments at social service centers have returned to their usual regime and again conduct face-to-face classes with disabled children. Pupils, parents, and social workers themselves are happy about this, as the journalists of Volgogradskaya Pravda.ru were convinced of.
In a familiar format
It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of rehabilitation, developmental practices and technologies that can help special children live a fulfilling life, and sometimes literally get on their feet. Volgograd families can get help in 22 rehabilitation departments and in two regional rehabilitation centers in our region. In one of them - the regional rehabilitation center "Inspiration" - today journalists from "Volgogradskaya Pravda.ru" have visited.
“During the year, we have over 400 special children undergoing rehabilitation, 20% of them have musculoskeletal disorders,” explains the director of the center, Larisa Sklyar. - Various specialists come to their aid - a defectologist, a speech therapist, teachers of additional education, an instructor-methodologist in adaptive physical education, a psychologist.
To become wards of the "Inspiration" center, you first need to draw up an individual program for the provision of social services. Depending on the diseases, a personal rehabilitation route is drawn up for each child.
A child with disabilities has the right to undergo two rehabilitation courses per year (three months each). Classes are absolutely free.
When, due to the coronavirus, everyone had to go into self-isolation, the Inspiration Center temporarily stopped full-time reception of disabled children. Since March 23, specialists have sat down at computers and have been in dialogue with their pupils via Skype and other messengers.
- For us, this is a completely new experience, everything was for the first time! But it turned out that this kind of communication can even be introduced into everyday practice. For example, with families where there are already adult children in wheelchairs, and it is often difficult for them to come to us, - continues Larisa Sklyar. - And since June 30, we have resumed the provision of face-to-face services. Long-awaited event! After all, not every child can achieve the same results at the computer as with live contact with a specialist.
They were looking forward to meeting with teachers
The "Inspiration" center was carefully preparing for the start of the face-to-face classes. The main concern is the prevention of coronavirus and the safety of pupils, whose health is already weak.
Particular attention is paid to the recommendations of Rospotrebnadzor on the observance of the correct hygienic regime. Therefore, face-to-face classes are still only individual, not group, and only by appointment.
All visitors to the center at the entrance measure the temperature, rub their hands with an antiseptic. The logistics of moving around the center building has been thought out so that the children have as little contact with each other as possible. Waiting areas in the lobby are now segregated according to social distance.
The staff must use protective masks and shoe covers. After each lesson, the rooms are cleaned, the equipment is disinfected.
- Our kids, like no others, need physical education to develop important life skills, self-service skills. This is hard work, long and painstaking, - says Anton Morozov, instructor-methodologist for adaptive physical education. - So we are working, doing general strengthening and special corrective exercises. Children are children, sometimes they are capricious. You look for your own approach to each child, try to make friends, gain trust, and interest in the game. Together we achieve results.
Natalia Aidakova brought her 13-year-old daughter to a speech therapist class:
- The child has cerebral palsy, hyperkinetic form. For two years now we have been attending the Inspiration Center, classes with a speech therapist and a psychologist. We are also undergoing sand therapy, exercise therapy, went to the pool. This is vital for us. I see that my daughter's fine motor skills have improved, she pronounces sounds better. We do a lot at home, but it is very important to meet with a specialist eye to eye, when the child feels his support and is inspired by this.
“My daughter has become more sociable, her vocabulary has increased, and spoken language has become freer,” Oksana Golovanova’s mother shares her baby’s successes. - We have been going to the center for only six months, but I already see positive changes. Therefore, we were looking forward to when it would be possible to come here again!
A second home for special children
Another mother, Olga Malinovskaya, says that she is pleased with the help of the specialists of the center, where she and her daughter have been going for two years. The girl learned to hold a pencil and a brush, tell fairy tales, slowly reads by syllables, and before she did not even know the letters.
Six-year-old Mia boldly greeted the journalists as they entered the sensory room where the lesson was taking place.
- Hello! - she greeted, looking up from the Seguin board (a special board with collapsible parts for training perception and other psychological qualities. - Ed.).
“Mia doesn't want to go home from here,” Mom says with a smile. - Now you understand that today we came here with great joy and very happy with the opening of the center!