Alexey Ostrovskiy took part in the event dedicated to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Every day, people with disabilities prove to themselves and others that ailments and illnesses have no power if you don’t give up and don’t put your hands down. Governor Alexey Ostrovskiy took part in the event dedicated to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Today, Smolensk region is home for about 84 thousand people with disabilities. Taking caring of them, assisting them with employment and social integration, helping them with solving vital problems are among the most important priorities of the Administration of the region.

Currently, in Smolensk region people with disabilities are provided with all the measures of social support set by the federal legislation. Moreover, despite the objective difficulties connected with forming the regional budget for the next year, the entire list of regional support measures will remain unchanged.

One of the key issues of improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities is to create a barrier-free environment. It should be noted that in Smolensk region the program aimed at creating an accessible environment was adopted earlier than at the federal level. Today, in our region a set of measures designed to create equal conditions for all residents of the region has been carried out within the framework of the subprogram "Accessible Environment". In 2016, the total volume of its financing amounted to almost 56 million rubles, of which more than 28 million rubles came from the federal budget. This year, within this subprogram in Smolensk a dispatch communications center for the deaf has been organized, digital "talking" books on flash cards have been acquired for the library for the blind, within the next month the cinema "Sovremennik" will be specially equipped to carry out screenings for people with hearing and vision disabilities.

At the end of his speech, the Head of the region awarded Certificates and Letters of Appreciation for achieving success in sports and social life.

Speaking about the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Roslavl Isidor stressed that this holiday of kindness and courage unites not only those who bear the burden of the physical limitations but also those who help them to adapt to life.

The event was finished with a big festive concert.