Parents say disabilities handbook is a ‘must read’ for parents across Armenia
While children with and without disabilities drew on stones with different colours and participated in other activities that highlighted their rights, parents had the chance to discuss their challenges and how the handbook ‘Including All Children: Guidelines for parents of children with disabilities*’, developed by World Vision, can help.
Launching in several languages, including Armenian, the handbook seeks to inform and encourage parents of children with disabilities so that all children’s rights are respected.
Parents of children with special needs believe that their children do not need extra words or attention, but an equal approach “My son Mher is only 4 and a half years old. The diagnosis is autism and he has serious speech problems. Each time my neighbours, relatives and friends consider that they should ask whether Mher is talking, it is a pressure that I cannot bear”, said 30-year-old mother of two, Lianna Gevorgayn.
“The society creates problems because of apathy. Our children always feel people staring at them that often is so arrogant”, continued Lianna with a voice full of sorrow.
Parents of children with special needs believe that their children do not need extra words or attention, but an equal approach.
“How can I help my son to be better integrated into society? Can a mother’s efforts help the child? Shouldn’t others also be open to him? The Including All Children handbook should be introduced not only to us but also to those whose children do not have any difficulties. It may help us a lot”, said Lianna.
Parents that attend the centre with their children believe there is a need for more publicity around the issue of children with special needs, more public social advertisements and programs on TV and radio to promote the need to give all children - with and without disabilities - the same opportunities.
“The resistance towards our children is a result of ignorance and illiteracy. If people don’t know the reasons and the forms of the sickness your child has it is easier to stay far from that. The most many people do is show compassion which is never needed”, said Hripsime Santuryan, 38.
Hripsime has struggled for the wellbeing of her daughter Aghavni, 16, from her earliest days. She was born with cerebral palsy and has since relied on a wheelchair to move around.
“Everything starts from the parents of children with disabilities. They should be ready to fight for the rights of their children through educating others and changing their mindsets which is so hard to do”, said Hripsime confidently.
“If I had a chance to read a handbook like Including All Children when I first faced a problem of my child’s disability it would be much easier for me to protect my child from emotional abuse and to avoid many mistakes. The handbook gives additional knowledge to be able to encourage our children to participate in society”, continued Hripsime.
Hripsime explained that her daughter speaks very slowly and in the beginning she was nervous when Aghavni would speak to others. After years of struggling with other people’s perceptions Hripsime now has other opinions and is more self-reliant. She thinks that if one does not have enough tolerance to listen to Aghavni then it doesn’t mean that she should keep silent.
When asked whether Aghavni’s rights are protected, Hripsime explained, “Aghavni has never attended school and there are hundreds of children in the similar situation. Isn’t this one of the main rights of children -to receive a proper education?”
“My son does not talk and because of that many kindergartens refused to accept him. I was so disappointed”, added 28-year-old Kristine Voskanyan, who is mother to four and a half year old Sergey.
“I keep a diary and when disappointed I pass my emotions to a piece of paper”, shared Hripsime with pain in her eyes.
There are many recreation and rehabilitation centres in Armenia, but parents like these are unable to access these services because facilities don’t accommodate children with special needs – such as the need for a wheelchair ramp. Parents say that events arranged by World Vision are so important for this very reason.
“There are so many things I want to show my child. But what can I do? I am not able to overcome that many obstacles”, explained Hripsime.
These parents of children with disabilities also revealed that they are much more protective of their children because of widespread stigma and their fear that others will mistreat them.
“My daughter is 16 now and wants to be independent, she likes to interact with people but it frightens me. I am afraid that she will be abused”, said Hripsime.
“When Mher plays in the yard I want to stay next to him but he asks me to go home and let him alone with other children. Not to insult him I pretend that I go to do some home duties. But I am looking at him from the window. I have to take care and protect him”, explained Kristine.
“My son attends a regular kindergarten. To protect my child I go there and talk to children explaining that even though Mher is different he can be a good friend for them. It is so hard to talk to children about the difficulties he has”, added Lianna.
Parents believe that children with difficulties in rural Armenia are even more stigmatized and that the Including All Children handbook should be shared in the communities followed by discussions around it.
There are so many things I want to show my child. But what can I do? I am not able to overcome that many obstacles “The handbook is also for parents who do not face the problem of raising a child with difficulties. This can help them to better understand our children. Besides, it may help many parents to be encouraged to protect the rights their children have. As a result children will be less vulnerable and more involved”, said Hripsime.
“Also, the handbook can help many young women to avoid giving birth to a child with problems. The handbook tells us how important the nine months of pregnancy are”, said Kristine.
As the event came to a close children and their parents, among them Aghavni, Sergey, and Mher put the stones together on the grass to create an image of the sun.
“We decided to create the sun because it gives its warmth to people equally, without any separation and indication of healthy and sick”, said Aghavni.
The Malatia development centre supported by World Vision provides children with access to professional psychologists, speech and art therapists as well as other specialists. Most importantly children interact with their peers and often forget about their problems due to the environment established in the centre. Parents can also share their experiences in an atmosphere of support and understanding.
-Ends-
*Download the handbook at: http://meero.worldvision.org/docs/86.pdf
Launching in several languages, including Armenian, the handbook seeks to inform and encourage parents of children with disabilities so that all children’s rights are respected.
Parents of children with special needs believe that their children do not need extra words or attention, but an equal approach “My son Mher is only 4 and a half years old. The diagnosis is autism and he has serious speech problems. Each time my neighbours, relatives and friends consider that they should ask whether Mher is talking, it is a pressure that I cannot bear”, said 30-year-old mother of two, Lianna Gevorgayn.
“The society creates problems because of apathy. Our children always feel people staring at them that often is so arrogant”, continued Lianna with a voice full of sorrow.
Parents of children with special needs believe that their children do not need extra words or attention, but an equal approach.
“How can I help my son to be better integrated into society? Can a mother’s efforts help the child? Shouldn’t others also be open to him? The Including All Children handbook should be introduced not only to us but also to those whose children do not have any difficulties. It may help us a lot”, said Lianna.
Parents that attend the centre with their children believe there is a need for more publicity around the issue of children with special needs, more public social advertisements and programs on TV and radio to promote the need to give all children - with and without disabilities - the same opportunities.
“The resistance towards our children is a result of ignorance and illiteracy. If people don’t know the reasons and the forms of the sickness your child has it is easier to stay far from that. The most many people do is show compassion which is never needed”, said Hripsime Santuryan, 38.
Hripsime has struggled for the wellbeing of her daughter Aghavni, 16, from her earliest days. She was born with cerebral palsy and has since relied on a wheelchair to move around.
“Everything starts from the parents of children with disabilities. They should be ready to fight for the rights of their children through educating others and changing their mindsets which is so hard to do”, said Hripsime confidently.
“If I had a chance to read a handbook like Including All Children when I first faced a problem of my child’s disability it would be much easier for me to protect my child from emotional abuse and to avoid many mistakes. The handbook gives additional knowledge to be able to encourage our children to participate in society”, continued Hripsime.
Hripsime explained that her daughter speaks very slowly and in the beginning she was nervous when Aghavni would speak to others. After years of struggling with other people’s perceptions Hripsime now has other opinions and is more self-reliant. She thinks that if one does not have enough tolerance to listen to Aghavni then it doesn’t mean that she should keep silent.
When asked whether Aghavni’s rights are protected, Hripsime explained, “Aghavni has never attended school and there are hundreds of children in the similar situation. Isn’t this one of the main rights of children -to receive a proper education?”
“My son does not talk and because of that many kindergartens refused to accept him. I was so disappointed”, added 28-year-old Kristine Voskanyan, who is mother to four and a half year old Sergey.
“I keep a diary and when disappointed I pass my emotions to a piece of paper”, shared Hripsime with pain in her eyes.
There are many recreation and rehabilitation centres in Armenia, but parents like these are unable to access these services because facilities don’t accommodate children with special needs – such as the need for a wheelchair ramp. Parents say that events arranged by World Vision are so important for this very reason.
“There are so many things I want to show my child. But what can I do? I am not able to overcome that many obstacles”, explained Hripsime.
These parents of children with disabilities also revealed that they are much more protective of their children because of widespread stigma and their fear that others will mistreat them.
“My daughter is 16 now and wants to be independent, she likes to interact with people but it frightens me. I am afraid that she will be abused”, said Hripsime.
“When Mher plays in the yard I want to stay next to him but he asks me to go home and let him alone with other children. Not to insult him I pretend that I go to do some home duties. But I am looking at him from the window. I have to take care and protect him”, explained Kristine.
“My son attends a regular kindergarten. To protect my child I go there and talk to children explaining that even though Mher is different he can be a good friend for them. It is so hard to talk to children about the difficulties he has”, added Lianna.
Parents believe that children with difficulties in rural Armenia are even more stigmatized and that the Including All Children handbook should be shared in the communities followed by discussions around it.
There are so many things I want to show my child. But what can I do? I am not able to overcome that many obstacles “The handbook is also for parents who do not face the problem of raising a child with difficulties. This can help them to better understand our children. Besides, it may help many parents to be encouraged to protect the rights their children have. As a result children will be less vulnerable and more involved”, said Hripsime.
“Also, the handbook can help many young women to avoid giving birth to a child with problems. The handbook tells us how important the nine months of pregnancy are”, said Kristine.
As the event came to a close children and their parents, among them Aghavni, Sergey, and Mher put the stones together on the grass to create an image of the sun.
“We decided to create the sun because it gives its warmth to people equally, without any separation and indication of healthy and sick”, said Aghavni.
The Malatia development centre supported by World Vision provides children with access to professional psychologists, speech and art therapists as well as other specialists. Most importantly children interact with their peers and often forget about their problems due to the environment established in the centre. Parents can also share their experiences in an atmosphere of support and understanding.
-Ends-
*Download the handbook at: http://meero.worldvision.org/docs/86.pdf
Share