The event was held jointly with the All-Ukrainian public social-politic organization "National Assembly of Disabled of Ukraine".
People’s deputies of Ukraine, representatives of central bodies of executive power, international organizations and representatives of the All-Ukrainian public organizations of disabled participated in the meeting.
The Committee Chair Valeriy Sushkevych stressed the importance of introduction of inclusive policy as a systemic process, aiming at ensuring the rights of every child for qualitative and affordable education at the place of residence, since more than 18 thousand of children annually become disabled in Ukraine.
V.Sushkevych informed participants of the meeting that there are a number of laws in Ukraine regulating the provision of educational, health care and social services to people with limited possibilities, in particular disabled children. However, only after ratification of the the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the principles and approaches to acquiring education by disabled children changed significantly.
According to the Committee Chairman, this is the process of changes in the political, economic and social spheres aiming at establishing social equality and involvement of all population groups in the social life.
V.Sushkevych noted that lack of coherence in providing education and rehabilitation services to disabled children and youth, is one of the main problems in the sphere of education for disabled.
Not less topical, according to him, is the issue of proper material and technical support.
V.Sushkevych names architectural inaccessibility as one of the biggest obstacles on the way to implementing inclusive education.
Transport used within the program “school bus” quite seldom delivers children to rehabilitation centers after classes.
Apart from all objective factors, the society is unprepared to perceive disabled children, which prevents them from integration into society.
The Chairman of the Committee on Science and Education Liliya Hrynevych noted that “we need a new package of legislation that would ensure a decent right to education for people with special needs and encompass all aspects of education”.
The Chairman of the Committee on Science and Education and the Chairman of the Committee on Matters of Pensioners, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities agreed to pool efforts in order to jointly develop such package of legislative acts.
Following the results of discussion, participants of the round table discussion concluded on the need to take immediate decisions in regard to the following: amend legislation of Ukraine in the part of education; necessity of additional educational training for teachers and educators working with children with disabilities; importance of establishing a model of interdepartmental cooperation, etc.