The Coalition of Parents of Children with Disabilities hosted organizations of parents from 8 countries in Georgia to strengthen regional cooperation. Representatives of Georgia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia participated in the online discussions.
Parents shared their experiences to further protect the rights of people with disabilities. In the format of presentations, the legal status of persons with disabilities in different countries, their support services, needs and challenges were addressed.
The problems faced by children with disabilities in Georgia were discussed at the event. The conversation focused on the advantages of mental health homes, the role of municipal and local self-governments in supporting children with disabilities. Participants of the event also discussed programs for children with autism spectrum disorders.
For their part, the representatives of the participating countries talked about the role of parents in improving the rights of children with disabilities in their countries, as well as what obstacles they face and what necessary steps should be taken to address these issues.
During the conference, parents also formed working groups and in this mode the participants discussed various issues in more detail.
The meeting was organized by the Coalition “Movement for Change”. The online event was hosted by Irma Khabazi, Public Health Program Manager at Open Society Georgia Foundation. The event was moderated by Maia Shishniashvili, the founder of the Coalition “Movement for Change”. According to the organizers, more such conferences are planned in the future.