Early Intervention Educational and Social Rehabilitation Center for Special Needs Children "Pahinets" - a step towards a more tolerant society

January 28, 2005

Lyubov Yevtushok, M.D.

On the 19th of January the first year anniversary of Day Care Center �Pahinets� was celebrated. Children were in the center of everybody�s attention. A lot of people came to the center to congratulate children in this anniversary. Among them, were people who work in �Pahinets�, children�s friends and peers form the kindergarten, the Head of Rivne Educational Affairs Department Vitaliy Novak, representatives of local Educational Affairs Department and staff of the OMNI-Net Rivne Center.

Mr. V. Novak greeted children and adults with the 1-st anniversary of "Pahinets"

Past year was challenging for the �Pahinets� Center. It was the year of establishing and gaining professional and real experience with the help of local government. In cooperation with the Ukraine Special Needs Orphanages Fund (USA), Ukrainian-American Birth Defects Program and many other people. The crucial event in �Pahinets� life took place on the 1st of September. It was the opening of an integrated adaptation group, which includes 7 children with Down syndrome and 4 healthy ones. It was stressed during the celebrations, that �Pahinets� is a step toward a more tolerant society.

A lot of things have to be put in place to implement the early intervention program. For example, parents and the Center staff seek a decision of the local administration to give a legal status to the �Pahinets� to qualify the center to engage a developmental pediatrician and a social teacher.

The Center staff and parents expressed their sincere thanks to all the people envolved with the "Pahinets" establishment. Special mention was made of the contributions by the Ukrainian-American Birth Defects Program Director, professor W. Wertelecki and the OMNI-Center staff, the President of the Ukraine Special Needs Orphanages Fund Ms. Karen Feathers and other members of her team.

This event was widely covered in mass media.

Both healthy children and those with special needs study and play in the "Pahinets" integrated group

It's pleasant to get gifts from adults on holidays

Reviewed by: Tetyana Vihovska