Not all the children in Moldova could enjoy the program staged on the occasion of the International Children’s Day. The children with disabilities were neglected. Most of these stayed aside because nobody thought to adjust the activities to their special needs. In a news conference at IPN, executive director of the Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities “ProSprijin” Iulian Perciun said the access to most of the recreational places is not adjusted to the needs of persons in wheelchairs as there are no ramps.

According to UNICEF statistics, only half of the about 15,000 children with disabilities are included in general education institutions. “They have spoken about inclusion for 15 years. But what about the other half. We call on everyone to be tolerant and not to forget that the development of a tolerant person starts from the education received at the nursery school,” stated Iulian Perciun.

Parent of a disabled child Marcel Vieru said the access to public institutions in urban areas is a real challenge for the parents and children with disabilities, but the situation in villages is alarming. In rural areas, there is no elementary infrastructure and adjusted transport for going to school.

Parent Natalia Gradinaru said the families that raise children with disabilities face major problems as regards the recreation and rehabilitation of their children. At the National Rehabilitation Center, there is no swimming specialist who would work with autistic children and these cannot attend the swimming lessons. The National Center for Children and Youth “Artico” does not provide services intended for disabled children.

The disabled children have no access to summer camps even if this thing is not recognized. Discrimination also persists in hospitals. Before being examined, the autistic children or the hyperactive children have to queue up together with their parents. But this is an impossible task for the persons with such disorders.

On June 6, members of the Association “ProSprijin” staged an awareness-raising event centering on the observance of the right to play of the children with disabilities. The event “Childhood without barriers” was held on a playground to show that the disabled children can and have the right to play together with the other kids.