Annual Report 2014 by First Step Georgia

First Step Georgia Annual Report 2014

2014 Our Vision:

A Georgian society that provides equal opportunity to all of fully realize individual potential; to increase personal well-being to contribute to common welfare and to ensure that children with intellectual and physical disabilities are a fully empowered part of society.

Our Mission:

To promote inclusion of children with intellectual and physical disabilities, to improve their quality of life, to remove the stigma which society continues to harbor against disabilitiy in children and to raise awareness and tolerance of their special needs through provision of services to the children and their families.

Implications of Georgia’s signing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities On 26 December 2013, the Parliament of Georgia unanimously ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPD. As a result of ratifying the Convention, the Government undertook the obligation to ensure the improvement of healthcare, social and economic welfare, education and social integration of persons with disabilities, including children. The CRPD prohibits any kind of discrimination based on disabilities. Article 7 of the Convention underscores the state’s obligations with regard to the protection of the rights of children with special needs; it also states that any decisions must be made taking the interests of the child with disabilities into account. In addition, the Convention obliges member states to introduce an inclusive system at every level of education, allowing children and adults with disabilities receive education throughout their lives. Out of an estimated 10,000 children with disabilities in Georgia today, only 3,500 have been assessed so they can participate in the inclusive education system. It is possible that only a minority of assessed children will participate in the inclusive education system. There are still 600 children in specialized boarding schools; 474 children between 6 and 18 attend Day Care programs and 350 aged between 0 and 7 receive Early Intervention services. There is no information about the exact number of children attending pre-school education institutions and statistics are unreliable. Data

indicates that much fewer than half of Georgia’s children have access to education and social programs. In 2014 steps were taken towards the welfare of children with disabilities: the number of teachers with special education working in the inclusive education system has increased and inclusive professional education has improved; the scope of Early Intervention Programs has been broadened. However, many important issues remain, including the reform of the system of granting the disability status in accordance with the social model of disabilities; matching disability pensions at least to the minimum wage; increasing the protection of children with disabilities from violence; and improving their access to inclusive education, social programs, adapted environment and assistive equipment. It is important that – starting from 2015 – the state, together with international and local organizations working on the issues will begin addressing the basic problems listed above. This can come about through reforms in the education system, changes in social policy, and the establishment of economic and infrastructure changes to harmonize the 20142016 Government Action Plan on Providing Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and the CRPD guidelines. Importantly, the Ombudsman’s Office will monitor the Convention implementation beginning in 2015.

First Step Georgia Day Care Center switches to a new Specialized Day Care Model The Day Care Center program is an extremely important service provided to children with disabilities and their parents, including rehabilitation and informal education. First Step Georgia’s Day Care Center Program operated since 2004, providing services to children with severe and profound disabilities who cannot participate in an inclusive education system. It fosters children’s physical and cognitive development, helps them acquire skills necessary for independent life, develop communication skills and have everyday interaction with their peers and the outside world. In the second half of 2013, FSG began advocating for approval for a Specialized Day Care Model by the State through the Ministry of Health. The parents of the Day Care Center beneficiaries also stepped up their efforts, sending official letters to relevant officials and holding meetings. Finally, in 2014, the State approved the Specialized Day Care Model and our Day Care Center began using it.

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Today, the number and content of the groups and classes at our Center has changed and we now offer: • • • • •

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ABC in which children learn their native language and elementary arithmetic; Ria-Ria which improves sensory integration and memory development; Science which helps young people acquire learning skills and knowledge about the outside world; Art Group with classes in drawing and sculpture; Alternative Communication or Card Communication to support children who need to establish appropriate communication with their environment; and First Door in which specialists work with beneficiaries who have behavioral difficulties, in order to diminish aggressiveness to self or others and help them adjust to change. They can then move to other programs with other children.

the skills identified. HELP is a practical instrument that is easy to understand and use for both the professionals and the children’s parents. The Day Care Center also uses the BCP (Behavioral Characteristics Progression) assessment, which is an important and practical handbook for informing a parent, assessing a child and elaborating activities. It contains 2,300 observable behaviors that help identify beneficiaries’ needs so that a plan for individual intervention can be created with the help of the handbook.

Our student assessment system has also changed. In 2014, a modernized assessment system called HELP (Hawaii Early Learning Profile) was introduced that includes both the assessment of a child and a list of activities necessary to develop

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FSG’s Early Intervention Program now in its Third Year! In 2011, FSG began a new and extremely important program to provide services to young children from birth to age seven, and their families. The program started simultaneously in the three largest Georgian cities – Kutaisi, Batumi and Tbilisi. In 2014 FSG served 212 in Tbilisi, in Kutaisi and Batumi 155 children with Early Intervention services and the demand continues to increase. The Early Intervention Program has several important goals: The first is to provide high-quality services to young children who have potential risks to their development. We work with their families to ensure the child has the best chances for age-appropriate development by strengthening the family and advocating for the social inclusion of the infants children and their families. We are participating in the creation of a national strategy and policy for Early Intervention and lobbying authorities, as well as supporting the state in the process of its introduction and implementation. Significant steps were made in 2014 in collaboration with the Children’s Early Intervention Coalition, where State standards for Early Intervention have been developed which is creating an Early Intervention Quality Assurance System. The Early Intervention Coalition, established on the initiative of FSG and other International and local NGOs, including FSG (Tbilisi), Children of Georgia (Tbilisi), the Georgian Association of Children’s Neurologists and Neurosurgeons (Tbilisi), the

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Neurodevelopment Center (Tbilisi), the Georgian Portage Association (Tbilisi), Hand in Hand (Tbilisi), Coalition for Social Reform (Chkhorotsku), Institute of Neurology and Neuropsychology (Tbilisi), the Georgian Association for Public Interest Protection (Telavi), Global Initiative in Psychiatry (Tbilisi). International members of the Coalition are: Open Society - Georgia Foundation, World Vision Georgia, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Coalition also has partners among governmental institutions such as the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, the Agency for Social Services, and the Ministry of Education and Science. With the support of Open Society Foundation and their consultants Emily Vargas Baron, Toby Long, Jennifer Grisham-Brown, the Early Intervention Program has been able to grow. The FSG Early Intervention team has participated in international conferences and trainings organized by OSF (International workshop on early intervention, March 2012, Stockholm, Sweden; AEPS Training, March 2013; Study Tour to The Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, April 2013, Washington DC; Annual Networking Meeting for Inclusive Education in November 2013, Edinburg, Scotland; Social Advocacy Training 2014, Sofia, Bulgaria. ISSA Conference in October 2014, Budapest, Hungary. Annual Networking Meeting for Inclusive Education in November 2014, Yerevan, Armenia).

In 2014, a survey was carried out among the parents of the FSG Early Intervention Program, with the following results: Child development – In the opinion of the parents their children became more communicable, sociable, active, cheerful, purposeful, and interested in objects and events. They developed more willingness to be in an unfamiliar environment and showed more skill adjusting. Their interest in learning increased. Children learned to pronounce words, the meaning of words, writing and reading, playing, fulfilling simple tasks, sitting up, standing up, chewing, communicating with people, following their daily schedule and expressing their wishes. Children’s gross and fine motor skills developed considerably as did their learning and social skills.

Changes in the attitudes and skills of parents and family members – Communication by family members with their young child became easier as they learned the correct approaches for their interaction. This helped them care for their children, and to start noticing changes in their child’s development. They became better at assessing their child’s capabilities, and their attitude towards their child’s abilities changed so that the child became more involved in family life. They also learned about their child’s rights and how to protect them.

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Home Based Care program – “We visit those who are unable to visit us” There is no service available in Georgia today for children and youth with severe and profound disabilities, who are unable to leave home due to severe and acute medical needs. They often require constant care. Because of the absence of the services they need, they and their families remain isolated from society. They often lack even basic skills required for self-care and independent life. Their physical, functional and cognitive development worsens, causing behavioral problems to become more severe. Due to their problems with verbal and non-verbal communication, parents and family members do not know how to communicate with their children, lacking access to a specialist’s help. This is why the family and caregivers can rarely identify the children’s needs. These difficulties can contribute to the early death of severely disabled children or heighten their risk of institutionalization or hospitalization due to the deterioration of their condition. This is why the Home Based Care program is an urgent priority for society. Specialists can turn the situations around and relieve both the child and the family. Psychologists, occupational therapists, development specialists, speech therapists, pediatricians and/or social workers can all contribute to significantly improve a child’s life chances, skills and even social integration. The timely provision of HBC can even make it possible to include some children in the inclusive education and Day Care Center program.

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FSG has implemented the HBC program since 2007, annually providing service to 50-60 children and youth with severe and profound physical and intellectual disabilities from socially vulnerable families. Today the program covers 33 beneficiaries from families living below poverty line, 16 from single parent families, 14 from large families and 47 from families where only one or no member is employed. In 2014, a new assessment instrument – HELP (Hawaii Early Learning Profile) – was introduced within the framework of the program. It unifies a system of assessment and recommendations. HELP is a practical instrument, easy to understand and use for both professionals and children’s parents. Based on the assessment results, professionals select the activities most suitable for the needs of a each child. The BCP (Behavioral Characteristics Progression) assessment form has also been introduced, as an important and practical information handbook for parents for assessing a child and creating developing activities. It contains 2,300 observable behaviors that help define beneficiaries’ needs. By using the handbook, families and specialists together can develop a plan for individual intervention. HBC is not funded by the Government, however we are working to have it included in state-funded programs.

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Nika Muzashvili

Marina Turmanashvili, Nika Muzashvili’s mother: For me as a parent with a 15-year-old boy, being a beneficiary of the HBC program is very important as my child’s condition is severe. He suffers from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and intellectual development disorder. He cannot walk and thus cannot go to school or a Day Care Center. Without help from the FSG professional educato it would be very hard for me to manage these difficulties. The HBC program allows me to find a little time for myself and for other household matters. My child’s condition has improved because professionals help him learn essential skills like feeding himself. I thank FSG for this service and providing such important help, support and encouragement to families like ours.

Mirian Siradze

Maka Siradze, Mirian’s mother: The HBC program is very important to my family. Now we have an educator who plays a great role in educating and helping my child develop. We also receive the service of a teacher and it is important that Mirian, who is seven years old, continues receiving these services as I believe my child will achieve greater success with their help!

First Step Georgia’s HBC specialist’s visit to the USA In 2014, a social worker from the Home Based Care program was sponsored by the American Embassy to visit the US for a study and work exchange program and familiarize herself with US practices in disability work. Along with other participants from Georgia’s non-governmental and governmental sectors, she participated in study the visit aimed to show practices in dealing with various issues related to persons with disabilities. During the one-week visit, she attended meetings in a local Healthcare Department, an autism center, and a 24-hour service center for children with disabilities as well as an inclusive education administration center. She observed a court case and a Public Defender’s Office, learning about the rights of persons with disabilities.

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Supporting Pre-school Inclusive Education First Step Georgia (FSG), with support from the Open Society – Georgia Foundation, is implementing a project that aims to improve pre-school inclusive education in the regions of Ajara and Imereti. Six public kindergartens in Kutaisi and Batumi are participating in the project. The goal is to promote integration of children with special needs and increase their inclusion in public kindergartens where they can participate in pre-school education with other children. The project included preliminary needs and resource assessments for of pre-school institutions in Kutaisi and Batumi, then setting goals of the project in accordance with needs.

development and the social integration of children. The training was based on the contemporary methodology, approaches and trends of pre-school inclusive education promotion. After the training, FSG’s Early Development specialists retrained the kindergarten teachers in the project to help the better manage the process of working with children and foster children’s development.

Professor Jennifer Grisham-Brown, expert in inclusive education from the University of Kentucky, conducted training for specialists in early child development involved in the pre-school inclusive education promotion project. She developed Training for Trainers on the creation of a suitable environment in kindergartens for children with special needs and typical development; and the development of curricula conducive to general

FSG’s new specialized program for children with autism The FSG Day Care Center, Early Intervention and Home Based Care programs provide services to children with various developmental disorders. Autism therapies occupy a leading place in our work. In 2014, our neuropsychologist Teona Gavashelishvili developed a specialized program that includes individual and group work with children with autism to improve children’s social integration, speech and communication skills, help them manage challenging behavior so they can participate in educational programs. It also helps reduce associated problems such as anxiety and restlessness and encourages independence which improves the quality of life of autistic children and their families. The program consists of the assessment of children with autism, creation of individual intervention plans based on the results of the assessment, then active work with each child.

The new program will start in January 2015 using a combination of several widespread approaches to work with children with autism – ABA, FLOORTIME and the Sensory Integration Program. The children will be assessed through Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program - VB-MAPP. VB-MAPP is an assessment tool to determine a child’s general development level, their strengths and weaknesses, and the evaluation of their development over time. It also identifies factors that could impede the child’s progress. Using the FLOORTIME approach helps make the child’s development mutually pleasant for both child and adult, whether a specialist or parent. It enhances the child’s emotional involvement and encourages fuller interaction with those around them.

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FSG supports government to strengthen capacity of local service providers The year 2014 was special for FSG as the regional daycare centers became independent, resulting in the establishment of two local organizations: Bridge for Social Inclusion in Kutaisi and Imereti, and the Habilitation and Development Center in Batumi and Ajara region. We believe that all regions should share the experiences demonstrated by Batumi and Kutaisi, so children everywhere in the country with special needs can receive assistance and increase their possibilities for long-term social inclusion. In 2010, the Georgian Ministry of

Labor, Health and Social Affairs and international and local partners, began long-term childcare reforms to abolish large institutions and develop alternative and family-oriented services in Tbilisi and other regions. FSG joined in 2011 with the mission to develop services for families with children with disabilities. FSG increased the scope of the Day Care Center’s services in Tbilisi, created a Day Care Center in Kutaisi and developed an Early Intervention Program in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi.

From FSG’s Kutaisi Branch to “Bridge for Social Inclusion”, an independent organization The establishment of the Day Care Center and development of the Early Intervention Program in Kutaisi was decided by the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs and UNICEF. Kutaisi was selected because the number of children with disabilities needing Day Care was the highest after Tbilisi. In addition, it was a priority also because the number of referrals of infants with disabilities to largescale children’s homes became second only to Tbilisi. In 2011, local authorities in Kutaisi helped FSG procure space for a Day Care Center and for Early Intervention Programs. With support from UNICEF, the space was renovated and equipped and local specialists were retrained. In 2012, the Kutaisi Day Care Center and Early Intervention Programs began and for two years, FSG’s professionals conducted training and supervision for local specialists (teachers, a psychologist, speech therapist and early intervention special-

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ist). This resulted in a strong team being formed at FSG’s Kutaisi Branch. Since 2012, the development of Early Intervention Programs has been supported by the British and Georgian offices of the Open Society Foundation and their experts. In 2014, along with the qualification of the team, the number of beneficiaries increased significantly. Now Early Intervention covers 50 children in Kutaisi aged 0 to 7 while the Day Care Center provides services for 20-24 children from 6 to 18. The Kutaisi Branch of FSG has carried out many important activities to increase public awareness about the needs and problems of children and young people with disabilities in the city; various events and campaigns aimed at social integration were also implemented. This year, the work of FSG’s Kutaisi Branch management and its team of professionals showed they were ready to operate independently and in June 2014, a new organization – Bridge for Social Inclusion – was established.

On 30 July 2014, First Step Georgia and Bridge for Social Inclusion signed a Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation and in August, the organization received the right to use the municipal facilities. They are now registered as a provider of services of the Day Care Center and Early Intervention Programs in the entire Imereti region. We congratulate this new organization on its independence and dynamic work. An important factor was that local government – led by Mayor Shota Murghulia – has continued to support initiatives that benefit persons with disabilities.

In 2015, FSG’s Early Intervention Program will be continued in Batumi with the newly established Habilitation and Development Center Within the framework of the childcare reforms, FSG established an Early Intervention Program in the city of Batumi. Specialists conducted a long-term training course to retrain local staff. In 2012, as a result of cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, 40 vouchers for the Early Intervention Program were allocated in Batumi. The Batumi multidisciplinary team of the Early Intervention Program helps infants and young children needing early support for disabilities, and consists of a psychologist, occupational therapist, speech therapist and other specialists providing services for children between 0 and 7 in the whole Ajaria region. The demand for the Early Intervention Program is rising quickly however, and considering the results of the program the Batumi regional government decided to fund 30 more beneficiaries from the local budget in 2015, which will give more children the opportunity to receive

early intervention services and become involved in pre-school inclusive education.

First Step Georgia expands training programs for specialists FSG has been providing services to children with disabilities and their families since 1998. Over 16 years, the organization has created and developed modern services adapted to the needs of children and their families. The logical continuation of this experience and knowledge was the enhancement of the training component which has been in place for the past eight years. The

training is in line with the goals of the national reforms on children’s welfare and inclusive education. It also contributes to the fulfillment of the organization’s mission to improve the quality of life of children and young people with disabilities and protect their rights.

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For the past two years, the training component has moved to a new level. New trainers were identified within the organization and especially retrained, old training modules have been updated and new ones have been created.

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In 2013-2014, FSG trained over 250 people in the following skills:

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• •

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Knowledge and skills required for working with children and young people with disabilities Knowledge and skills required for working with children with autistic spectrum disorders Functional assessment for challenging behavior, its management and development of positive behavior support program Main problems of violence against children with disabilities

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Training of trainers Social advocacy Medical First Aid Social work with children with disabilities and their families Principles of teaching children with disabilities, individual approach, rehabilitation/habilitation plan Training for parents of children with disabilities

Training participants include parents (guardians/ carers) of children with disabilities, family members, government and non-governmental sector representatives working with persons with disabilities (administrative level, teachers, educators, specialists), kindergarten and school teachers, students and other interested persons.

Participants’ feedback: ––

The trainer was professional and exceptional. The training was interesting and sincere, and all details were thought through and taken into account. Examples were taken from life, and I had a feeling that they were talking about me. I would like for such trainings to be conducted frequently. Everyone should participate teachers, parents and kindergarten educators.

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It was an unforgettable three days this year! Not only myself but my children and students are grateful! I will definitely adjust my behavior. I hope that this was not the last meeting, and I will attend any training you conduct!”

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The trainings are very well planned, practical, interesting, and based on life experience as well as informative. I would underscore the trainer’s teaching skills and positive attitude; no question remained unanswered. The only thing is that three days were not enough. Thank you very much!”

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First Step Georgia offers Sensory Integration Program for the children and youth with developmental disorders A child’s sensory integration is for normal development. By touching, looking at, listening to, tasting, and smelling the objects around them, children familiarize themselves with the outside world and receive information about objects or from events unfolding in their environment, including the causality between them. We have all heard about the five senses – sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. The essence of sensory integration concerns these and two more – “vestibular sense” (sensations of body rotation and of gravitation and movement that arise in the inner ear) and “proprioception” (the sense of the relative position of neighboring parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement). The vestibular system informs the brain about the position of the head (whether or not the head is moving, in what direction and how rapidly). The proprioceptive system located in muscles and tendons and supplies the brain with information about a person’s position in space. It is sometimes difficult for the central nervous system to receive all sensory information simultaneously, process it and respond appropriately. Each of us has strategies we use to help our system fulfill these tasks. In our everyday activities, many different stimulants affect us simultaneously, for example when we walk in the street, we hear different noises and our surroundings change every minute – light, smells and other sensations. Our brain manages to organize and process this information and tries to react appropriately and we often do not pay attention to most factors. We usually focus our attention on specific street sounds like the honking of a car or someone calling our name but do not react to all stimuli. For most of we continue our action (for example taking a bus) without thinking about all the non-essential sights and sounds.

very strong, and 2) reduced sensitivity (hyposensitivity) when a child does not react to many strong stimulants. When children have problems with sensory integration, it prevents them from establishing proper contacts and relations, and causes socially inappropriate behavior. They experience high levels of anxiety and mood swings which may be frequent, so that they have difficulties adapting to new situations and their environment.

FSG Sensory Integration Program The goal of the Sensory Integration Program is to teach children and youth to respond appropriately to stimuli from hearing, sight, smell, taste and tactile sensations, and learn to use these in their everyday lives. It also helps improve balance and coordination that ensures better social adaptation and reduces stereotypical behavior. Learning social skills helps young people adjust to change and a new environment, which in turn means they can better overcome learning disabilities and become more independent and attentive to others. The sessions of sensory integration at FSG are carried out in a specialized sensory integration room with an occupational therapist who works individually with each child according to their assessment by a team of development specialists.

What is sensory dysfunction? Sensory Integration Dysfunction is a disorder of the information processing functions. Children exhibit a number of symptoms that are often incorrectly perceived as bad behavior. The problem of sensory integration can be first divided into two main categories: 1) heightened sensitivity (hypersensitivity) when one reacts to mild stimulants as if they were

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Parents’ feedback on the FSG Sensory Integration Program

Maka, mother of Nikoloz, 6

Ketevan, mother of Lasha, 5

Nikoloz was diagnosed with infantile autism which meant it was very difficult for him to adjust to any changes or new things. When we started participating in the Sensory Integration Program, Nikoloz was irritated by the noise, disturbed by different lighting, barely ate and would not touch objects with different textures. He would not use soap, disliked being bathed with a sponge and cried hysterically if water got on his head. We had problems using public transportation, and I never took him to birthday parties or entertainment centers.

Irakli was never diagnosed with a disorder, yet I nevertheless brought him to be assessed. It turns out that he has a sensory integration disorder – he’s afraid of heights and space in general; he wouldn’t swing or touch various objects, and had difficulties jumping, even from the lowest step. He was overcautious and rarely risked other physical movement, asking for others’ help. He didn’t know how to solve simple problems and became very negative. He failed at games, so he stopped trying, and became very nervous and emotional. It was impossible for him to sit still and complete a single activity calmly and it was always difficult for him to follow instructions.

As a result of intensive work with FSG’s program, Nikoloz’s condition has changed radically. Although he initially displayed difficult reactions to various stimuli and cried in several sessions, with the specialized methods used by the therapist, now Nikoloz turns on the music he likes in the sensory room, tries to imitate the therapist’s movements to the music, turns on lights of various colors and identifies them. We now play farm with different animal toys. He has noticeably changed at home too – he no longer protests when the TV is loud and we began to draw with foam and finger paints and play with soap at home too. He plays during his bath, for example pours water on his own head when he bathes. Now he can work in diverse environments. He understands and follows our instructions, even against a background of moving lights or music. In other words, we are preparing him for the busy atmosphere of school – also by copying figures to paper.

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When we started participating in the FSG Sensory Integration Program, Irakli gradually began to overcome all kinds of fears. He enjoys coming here and happily follows instructions, although there are games he does not particularly like. The environment is so pleasant and there are so many other things that are entertaining for him that he gradually overcomes his fears and accepts new experiences. I accompany him on each visit and follow the specialists’ recommendations at home, trying to use the same methods and techniques to help him perform the same activities. After several visits, Irakli’s emotional state has normalized to the extent that no longer becomes overly agitated or too upset at failure. He is more motivated and puts more effort into participating in physical activities. Thus, his self-confidence has improved, which helps him participate in kindergarten activities. He is attentive and can better concentrate on the same activity for several minutes. His speech has improved as well!

Joint innovative project of First Step and Bank of Georgia “Life Tree” At the initiative of FSG and with financial support from Bank of Georgia Future Foundation’s social project Tree of Life, a six-month project called Supporting Sensory Integration and Social Adaption of Children with Disabilities was realized, with the main goal of supporting FSG’s sensory integration and social adaptation work. It addresses the many children with disabilities who show signs of “sensory integration disorders” and have difficulties adapting to the environment – moving, managing their behavior, communicating and adjusting to new situations. Within the main project a handbook for parents and specialists – How To Make Developing Sensory Toys – was created, and 250 sensory toys were made. Ten voluteers were trained, including a young person with disability and a parent, who can make sensory toys. A video portal will be created in the near future teaching how to make toys. The project was carried out mainly in Tbilisi but sensory toys and books will also be distributed to regional Day Care Centers and institutions for children.

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In partnership with the US Embassy, First Step Georgia advocates for the rights of ethnic minority children with disabilities Since August 2014, with financial support from the US Embassy, FSG began carrying out an 11-month project entitled Social Inclusion and Welfare Support for Ethnic Minority Children and Young People with Disabilities in Kvemo Kartli Region. The project targets the protection of rights and social integration of children with disabilities from ethnic minorities in the southeastern region of Kvemo Kartli around the town of Marneuli where a large majority of the population are Georgian Azerbaijanis (83%). The local government and non-governmental sectors receive information on disability issues. A local advocacy network is being created to support the inclusion of ethnic minorities with disabilities into social life and information in Azeri will be disseminated. At the initial stage of the project, focus groups were conducted with the participation of parents of persons with disabilities and representatives from schools and kindergartens. Meetings were held with local non-governmental organizations, social workers and the Head of the local government. The aim of the focus groups was to identify existing needs. Difficulties surfaced in many areas – the process of inclusive education is especially problematic, and will be addressed by planning and conducting trainings for schoolteachers. Kindergarten teachers also found challenges which the program addresses through training in knowledge and skills.

is the biggest problem, as Georgian language has been largely inaccessible for ethnic minority families; The lack of specialists in the region; Parents do not have information about educating children with special needs’; Children’s diagnoses and treatment need to be checked and reviewed; No services exist to support children’s development and social integration. FSG plans to develop and conduct targeted trainings, taking these difficulties into account. We will work to strengthen information to the local government and non-governmental sectors and advocate for the establishment of a Day Care Center in Marneuli with the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia. This project for children and youth with disabilities is one of very few in the region over the last decade. It will include awareness raising activities such as training and PR activities. An advocacy network will be created to continue the process of social integration after the project is completed.

Children with disabilities and their parents noted the following problems: The language barrier

American Paraolympic medalist, Candace Cable, conducts workshop for parents of children with disabilities Within the framework of a Guest Speaker Program funded by the US Embassy, 14-time Paralympic medalist from the United States, Candace Cable, met with the parents of FSG beneficiaries. Candace

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presented her story and biography to the audience – how she became paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair as the result of a road accident at the age of 21. She told how she struggled to avoid

social isolation, how she lost the will to live and how she decided to remain a full-fledged member of society. She learned a profession and became successful. Her presentation was very positive, with the attitude that disability does not have to be a sentence, but on the contrary, it can become a reason for new motivation and acceptance of challenges in a person’s life.

Trainings by American Expert Grace AmbroseZaken in Orientation and Mobility With support from the US Embassy, FSG invited Grace Ambrose-Zaken, a US expert in orientation and mobility, to conduct trainings in Georgia. She trained specialized teachers, occupational therapists and the specialists who are working with persons with disabilities and visually impaired. The course covered two main issues: how to conduct a functional assessment of persons with visual impairments and an introduction to orientation and mobility. Ms. Ambrose-Zaken presented a white walking stick that is used with adapted aid equipment to help those with visual impairments orientate themselves in space, move around and adapt. During Ms. Ambrose-Zaken’s visit, meetings were held with the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs. We hope she will remain involved to consult on the issues related to the persons with visual impairments. FSG, which provides services to children and youth with disabilities, will include the issue of visual impairment in its future agenda and make services part of its programs.

Playground Project and Student Participation In 2014, FSG launched a competition for volunteer architects and landscape designers to create a project for our Day Care Center playground so that our children can benefit from an adapted environment outdoors. This initiative drew a wide response and the winning project was developed by students from the Academy of Arts who are future architects and landscape designers: Tornike Jashia, Natia Kapanadze and Nona Davitaia. Before starting their work on the project, they examined the outdoors area and studied the needs of the children with disabilities during their stays at the Day Care Center.

we thank them sincerely and hope that with the help of our friends and donors that we can implement the project soon.

After several months of work, the students developed a remarkable, highly professional project which considers every detail and takes children’s needs into account. On behalf of our organization,

{ First Step Georgia • Annual Report 2014 }

Charity Gala Concert – Nino Katamadze “Love Will Save Us – 2014” On 5 June 2014, the annual Charity Gala Concert and reception were held in the Sheraton Metechi Palace under the title Love Will Save Us presenting Nino Katamadze, popular Georgian and international singer. Nikoloz Rachveli accompanied the singer along with the string orchestra Novaya Klassika from Moscow and the Georgian Brass wind orchestra. The evening was hosted by a remarkable Georgian singer and long-time friend of FSG, Maia Baratashvili who joined Nino Katamadze in an impromptu song. Proceeds from the charity event were channeled fully towards the Home Based Care program, which does not yet receive State funding. The 2014 Charity Gala Concert allowed us to continue the program and services to the 60 beneficiaries and their families. The 2014 charity gala concert was sponsored by: Petrocas Energy Group and Tbilisi City Hall – golden sponsors; Crystal Microfinance Organization – silver sponsor. Supporting Companies: Borjomi; Coca-Cola; Askaneli Brothers Wine Company. Information Support: Rustavi2, Radio Fortuna and Fortuna Plus.

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The Sukhishvilebi National Ballet danced for First Step Georgia On 3 December 2014, a charity concert by the Sukhishvilebi National Ballet dedicated to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was held at the Shota Rustaveli Academic Theater at the initiative of Tengiz Sukhishvili Charity Foundation and FSG. The concert was a sell-out. Even the dancers gave their time and efforts for free! All proceeds went to our organization and will be used for the Home Care program (see details in this edition).

First Step Georgia expresses our deepest gratitude to Nino and Iliko Sukhishvili – and each dancer – for the exceptional evening. Our organization has been cooperating with Sukhishvilebi for years and we thank them again for supporting our work. We admire their high artistic expression and creativity. We wish to also sincerely thank the Shota Rustaveli Academic Theater administration for allowing us to hold this concert at the Rustaveli Theater.

{ First Step Georgia • Annual Report 2014 }

June 14: National Day of Persons with Disabilities and FSG’s “Tree of Life” Exhibition Every year, FSG marks key dates to promote social integration. One is the National Day of Protection of Persons with Disabilities on 14 June. This year our children, their families and friends celebrated the day with support from the Bank of Georgia Future Foundation’s social project Tree of Life. The event was extremely cheerful and colorful, and an exhibition of drawings made by the beneficiaries of the FSG Day Care Center was part of the event as well as a costume parade, a concert by the Bzikebi ensemble, a fun dance competition, face painting and other activities. The goal of such events is to promote the social integration of children and teenagers with special needs, their communication with other people, helping them created new circles of acquaintances and friends to make their lives more diverse and develop social contacts. Children from FSG programs and from other Day Care Centers attended the celebration and other guests came included employees from the Bank of Georgia and officials.

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Traditional “Fathers’ Day” by the Early Intervention Team For the second year FSG celebrated Fathers’ Day, organized by the Early Intervention team. Our beneficiaries’ families participated in the celebration which included entertaining activities such as a culinary duel, and prizes for eco-activity, fun competitions between families and so on. Parents’ feedback was positive as they said that such entertaining events help them relax and get to know each other better. It means they can spend several pleasant hours in an agreeable environment. Parents hope we will continue and expand this tradition.

Autumn Celebration in the Home Based Care program FSG plans seasonal events that allow the organization’s beneficiaries, families and friends to become involved on social activities. One such event was the 2014 Autumn Celebration. The Ebani ensemble, a group of young musicians that includes several children with disabilities staged a concert for our children outdoors on FSG premises. The event was organized by FSG’s HBC team and was attended by the beneficiaries of the HBC, Day Care Center and Early Intervention Programs and their family members.

Our beneficiaries join in the global action “Colorful Socks” To mark World Down’s Syndrome Day and support people with Down’s syndrome a global campaign called Friends Don’t Count Chromosomes was carried out in Tbilisi and elsewhere in the world. People took photos of colorful socks – posting them in social networks and expressing their support and sending their love to people with Down’s syndrome. FSG children and teachers were happy to join the action.

{ First Step Georgia • Annual Report 2014 }

Charity initiatives and support by the Georgian business sector BDO Georgia, member of a worldwide network of public accounting firms The BDO company, well-known for its high degree of social responsibility and its frequent attention to the needs of children with disabilities, awarded another great present to FSG beneficiaries in 2014: The company provided FSG with assembly toys, puzzles, colored blocks, modeling clay, gouache, toy percussion instruments, colored balls and various assembly sets, which our specialists need for their work with children. In the process of development and psychosocial rehabilitation of children with special needs, playing with special development materials is very important. We express our sincere gratitude to BDO for their attention and friendship. Bank Republic project for “Invisible Children” FSG has acquired a new friend and partner in Bank Republic of the Société Général Group, which offered financial support in 2014 for the Home Based Care program to continue and maintain free services for those in need. The amount received will allow the HBC team to help those “invisible children” who can rarely leave home, so that they can participate in social activities and make their everyday life more interesting and diverse.

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GULF Oil Company Gulf Oil Company is a long-standing friend of FSG, and has often helped our Day Care Center by providing fuel to transport children to the Center. The Center requires large quantities of fuel for daily transportation needs and this contribution allows the organization to ensure other needs can be met as well. Gulf also participates as a sponsor for our charity events. The Georgian Lottery Company In December 2014, the Georgian Lottery Company and FSG began a joint project to provide socially vulnerable families with household and other items, including appliances such as refrigerators, furniture, food supplies and clothes. At the initial stage, the Georgian Lottery Company provided six socially vulnerable families of children with disabilities with 2,000 lari each, spent for basic appliances, a computer and clothes. FSG and Gulf plan to continue this collaboration in 2015 for other families.

Joining forces to increase the potential of children with disabilities First Step Georgia has made a commitment to keep every child possible out of de-humanizing institutions and in their familiar environment – to bring social and community life to their door or help them move into social life or education with the skills they need. With a small investment you too can help a child access a new world of hope, optimism and ability. Instead of a family living under the poverty line weighed with the heavy charge of a disabled child, we can join forces to increase their prospects! Your financial support will help us provide services to a home-bound child or to a young infant’s parents as they learn to avoid or minimize disability through early intervention. It can help a child attend our day care learning center – all with personalized plans for the child. We have seen the lives of

whole families transformed when their child makes even the smallest step – and this keeps them motivated to make the next step. Please support one of our key programs – Early Intervention, Day Care, Home-based Support, or Integrative Education – your donation will be carefully monitored by our staff to provide targeted assistance to a disabled child in a family. Providing support to First Step Georgia means giving new expectations to a child’s whole family – and a new existence to a very special disabled child. Donations in Georgia: You can donate directly to the First Step Georgia account in Tbilisi, in your choice of currency – Euro, UK Sterling, US Dollars or Georgian Lari.

Banking Information for Donations to First Step Georgia Tax ID 202061838 Address Agmashenebeli 150, Tbilisi, Georgia Office Address Lubliana str. 21b, Tbilisi, Georgia Tel 2 603 624 Fax 2 603 604 Bank TBC Bank Bank Code TBCBGE22 IBAN GE55TB7410636080100011 (GEL) GE52TB0600000033070511 (USD)

First Step Georgia • 21B Lubliana Street • Tbilisi, 0159, Georgia Tel: +995 32 2 603 604 / 2 603 624 • Fax: +995 32 2 63 604 116 E-mail: fsg@firststepgeorgia.org First Step Georgia in UK • Reg Charity in England and Wales: #1109599, 40 Uverdale Road, London SW 10OSR Tel: (44) 7989 982955 • E-mail: janecorboytfs@aol.com First Step Georgia in Ireland • Reg Charity in Ireland as Children of Caucasus • The Next Step CHY 13956 5 Clanwilliam Square, Dublin 2, Ireland • Tel: (353) 16619911 E-mail: des.macmahon@santos.ie

www.firststepgeorgia.org

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{ First Step Georgia • Annual Report 2014 }