"Social integration of people with disabilities in the Republic of Belarus" Anna Zakrevskaya, Head of Department of Social Protection at the Reseach Institute of Labour under The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus

The proportion of people with disabilities in the total amount of general population The number of people with disabilities in Belarus (as on January 1, 2015) - 536,700

The main goal of the State Policy of the Republic of Belarus in the field of Social Protection – to create conditions for the social integration of people with disabilities. Conditions required for the social integration: legal conditions socioeconomic conditions institutional conditions

The socioeconomic and institutional conditions include: the provision of benefits and guarantees granted by the Legislation; implementation of state and local (territorial) programs on social protection of people with disabilities; organization of medical, professional, labor and social rehabilitation of people with disabilities; provision of targeted social assistance and social services, and other measures of social protection of disabled persons

Main state programs of supporting people with disabilities «Creation of barrier- free living environment for people with disabilities» «Prevention of disability and rehabilitation of disabled persons»

Achieved results: transport and infrastructure as well as services in the area of trade, culture and entertainment, sports, social and healthcare services and other spheres gradually adapted to the needs of disabled people; a system of inclusive education for the disabled has been introduced, what led to expanding of the number of citizens with disabilities who are now included into the database of labor force; improvement of the quality and effectiveness of medical, social and vocational rehabilitation for persons with disabilities; and the most significant issue is a gradually changing attitude of society towards the citizens with disabilities.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection is developing public policies in cooperation with public associations of persons with disabilities international organizations (UNDP) scientific organizations (the Research Institute of Labour)

The main activities of the Research Institute of Labour in the field of social protection of people with disabilities development and implementation of innovative social services; formation of proposals to improve the system of social services for the disabled and the system of social protection of disabled people as a whole; development and implementation of tools to monitor the situation of persons with disabilities, evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation of the disabled; drafting of state programs containing a set of measures to improve the situation of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Belarus; and other activities.

Assistant to a person with disabilities Remote support of disabled people Provision of the guide dog Accompanied living New social services developed in the Institute of Labor as a result of cooperation with civil society organizations and UNDP

Database (more than persons) Ministry of Healthcare Ministry of Education Ministry of Defense Civil society organizations Ministry of Labor and Social Protection Insurance companies Interagency personalized database of people with disabilities

The Draft of the State Program of social integration of disabled persons in the Republic of Belarus for the years The Draft of the State Program contains Sub-program 1: «The development of a barrier-free living environment for persons with disabilities» Sub-program 2: «Improving the efficiency of rehabilitation of the disabled»

the process of activity of person with disabilities in which he forms, develops and implements his human potential on a par and together with other members of society Social integration The Draft of the State Program of social integration of disabled persons in the Republic of Belarus for the years

Barrier-free environment – a complex concept, which implies not only the absence of architectural barriers, but also the accessibility for people with disabilities a variety of services and information, as well as the absence of social barriers by creating a positive public attitude towards citizens with disabilities.

UNDP in Belarus: applying new approaches to empower PWD Joint project with UNDP: “The Assistance to Belarus in joining the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its implementation” Research Institute of Labor hold two surveys for disabled persons: a)A sampled survey of 5000 persons b)A total survey of 1000 people with disabilities in one of the districts The survey assessed the situation of persons with disabilities in areas: living conditions, access to social infrastructure, participation in society, standard of living, implementation of rehabilitation, education, employment, discrimination

Current innovation employed:  WHAT? Social inclusion research  WHY? To analyze current developments and detect emergent trends  HOW? Storytelling and micro-narratives UNDP in Belarus: applying new technologies to empower PWD

 New type of social research: Basis for citizen engagement and evidence-based policy and programming  Captures everyday experiences of PWDs in such areas as employment, health, education, accessibility, etc.  Reflects perspectives of people without disabilities  Analysis of current trends and detection signals of emergent trends  Aggregation of micro-stories provides opportunities (even if minimal) for citizens to participate in public policy and for public policy actors to shape policies and programmes based on unique evidence UNDP in Belarus: applying new technologies to empower PWD

MICRO-NARRATIVES IN ACTION

Dear colleagues, thank you for your attention!