1. Training for parents
2. Parents’ Association “Parents’ Assistance and Support Centre”
3. Hotlines
4. Recommendations for Parents

1. Training for Parents
Training for parents’ support and education

Training Course Objective: Support of parents of disabled children and youngsters, as well as transfer of knowledge and sharing of information, and development of practical skills among them.

The course is targeted for parents and family members of disabled children and youngsters and is aimed at education of parents on the issues of disability.

Training course has three directions:

» Transfer of Knowledge – Education of parents on the essence of disability, issues of child development (personal, social) and developmental disorders;
» Development of Skills – Development of practical skills necessary for disabled children’s care, and acquiring techniques of teaching through playing. Education of parents is creation of developmental environment in houses;
» Development of Attitudes – Support and assistance of parents, helping them in expression of emotions, having positive attitudes, developing adequate vision, and overcoming stress. 

Trainings are held in the premises of NGO First Step Georgia. In case of request, the trainings can be held in the premises of concerned organisations or any other preferred places.

For more information please contact:
» Tamuna Zaalishvili – Training Coordinator,
Tel/Fax: (995 32) 252519; (995 32) 230140
» Tamar Isakadze – Parents’ Empowering Program Administrator
Tel: (995 32) 530927; (995 32) 230140
E-mail: t_isakadze@yahoo.com

2. Association “Parents’ Assistance and Support Centre”

NGO “Parents’ Assistance and Support Centre” supports parents of disabled children. It unites parents of disabled children and youngsters.

Goal of the organization is to enhance knowledge and competences of disabled children’s parents and assist them in overcoming the problems related to disability.

Centre Activities:

• Individual and group consultations of parents – acquiring of knowledge for better determination of child’s future
• Mutual support – emotional and psychological discharge
• Raising of awareness – sharing of information on available services, rights, and organisations

For more information on association’s services please contact:

Zaal Tkeshelashvi, Association Chairman or Rusudan Tatishvili, Coordinator
Tel: 897 99 09 27
E-mail: parentsgeo@gmail.com

3. Hotlines

Hotline of Ombudsman: 922377 (122), 922477
Hotline of Tbilisi Mayor’s Office: 722222, 995898

4. Advice for Parents

What do you need if your child is disabled:

• Information/Knowledge – get information on disability, address the organisations that work on the issue, search for parents with disabled children, create active groups in order to protect your children’s and your rights.
• Proper Vision/Approach – assess and acknowledge the reality, think and plan the ways of making your child an equal member of society irrespective of the fact that he/she has special needs.
• Maintain Emotional Balance – Parents are frequently stressed when they acknowledge that their children need special care and “are different”. They are often shocked, have feelings of shame and guiltiness. Practical experience shows that the parents who have such feelings cannot adequately care for their children.

What does your child need:

• Education – Disabled child should get adequate education in Inclusive School, Integrated Class, Day Care Centre or other respective place. He/she should have individual program oriented at development of skills necessary for independent functioning in the society.
• Social Relations and Healthy Emotions – Your child has ability to express emotions. He/she needs to have relations with other children and people. Support your child to acquire friends.
• Your Support and Assistance – Children mostly need affection and love, caring environment, and sincere relations. By unconsciously observing their parents, children learn various behaviours and even expression of emotions. Family should create an environment, where child feels happiness and self-confidence.  
• Health Care Services – Disabled children definitely need proper and adequate medical assistance. Try to accurately describe child’s condition to a doctor and accurately follow his/her prescriptions. Doctor’s involvement is necessary in case of epilepsy since child’s collapse cannot be controlled without medication. 
• Service of Psychologist - Disabled children need special educational programmes. In most cases, they need control of difficult behaviours. Therefore, they require consultations and support of psychologist. Psychologist’s recommendations and advices will also help you, as a parent, in developing adequate relations with your child.

Recommendations for Parents
Methods of Parent’s Positive Approaches

1. Act according to principle of equality – Disabled child, like any other person, is an equal member of society. Treat child adequately, assess his/her abilities, and educate him/her according to his/her interests and abilities.  

2. Develop Child’s Interests - Your child is a little “scientist”, who permanently explores the world. He/she likes the things of various texture and colour and enjoys his/her uncommon game. This kind of exploration actively develops child’s cognitive skills. Supply a child with interesting toys that contribute to development of his/her sensor-motor skills.

3. Praise your Child – Praise your child whenever he/she successfully completes any task. However, the praise should always be adequate. As a result, his/her skills will be strengthened. Use nutrition reinforcement or any other prizes. Before that, find out what are your child’s preferences and what will motivate him/her. For example, one child may wish to have a toy as an award, while other prefers sweets.  

4. Assist Child to Establish and Maintain Relations – Give child opportunity to establish relations and make friends. However, remember that family environment is the most desirable for child. Relations outside the family develop child’s social skills.

5. Teach by Playing – Children like lessons that are based on games. For example, they better learn numbers and colours by playing lottery.  

6. In Case of Necessity Address Qualified Specialist - In order to ensure that child’s abilities and necessary skills are developed, you will need advice of qualified specialist, like psychologist, occupational therapist. Disabled children often need supervision of medical specialists.

7. Give Right of Choice – Suggest alternatives and give possibility to make choice. Thus, child’s personal activeness will be increased.

8. Develop the Sense of Ownership – Teach child that certain things, toys, cloths belong to him/her. Thus, child’s sense of responsibility will be developed.

9. Involve Child in Social Activities – If possible, take child to safe places, where every child usually goes (Zoo, park, amusement centre, etc.) and visit friends. 

10. Arrange Environment – Create “developmental” environment for child. Arrange child’s room based on his/her abilities. Consider using right resources while teaching child something. For example, child with cerebral palsy can better use big markers than pencils. 

11. Give Child Possibility to Broaden Outlook - Take child for a walk or go sightseeing. This will enrich child’s experience and help him/her to gain new experiences.

12. Help Child to Become Independent - Teach and develop child’s functional habits (everyday habits: independent eating and clothing, self-care). Don’t do on child’s behalf the things that he/she can do himself/herself.

13. Control Your Attitudes/Feelings – Remember, that problem often comes from attitudes and feelings towards the child. We may not be able to change the problem. However, we can change attitudes. Assessment of problem helps us to overcome it. 

14. Do Not Give Up – Never have feeling that your child cannot achieve anything. Thus your child will never become successful. Simply make expectations based on child’s abilities.

15. Do Not Request Too Much - Remember that your child is different. Do not compare him/her with other children. Compare child’s current experience with his/her past life. Observe what your child didn’t know and what he/she learnt.