Better Life for the Disabled

Despite of the fact that the disabled are having restrictions in their Me activities, they do not lose belief in themselves and their forces. They more and more actively strive at being integrated in "healthy society". The main criterion of estimating a disabled person's life should be not initially equal opportunities, but their equal quality of Me in comparison with healthy people.

One of the main goals set both to the state and to our city is creating such conditions to all disabled that would exclude any kind of discrimination and humiliation, not depending on a place of study or work, a degree and character of physical impairment.

St. Petersburg is one of the most vivid examples to be followed, not only in legal, but also in social sphere. Beside the Federal law, St. Petersburg has the law on "The state support of public associations of veterans of war and work, disabled and victims of political reprisals of Saint-Petersburg". Accordingly the disabled are released from a rent for using objects of uninhabited fund up to 100 sq. meters. Early 2002 deputies of the Legislative Assembly made changes to the Law of Saint-Petersburg ,,On tax privileges". This document has established a lower rate of the profit tax - at a rate of 10,5 % - for the enterprises and the organizations which are in the property of the Russian public associations of disabled that makes 4 % less than standard rate.

In St. Petersburg there are about 300 organizations for the disabled, among them various improvement centres, interregional public organizations and societies. Great attention is given to programs of rehabilitation of the disabled children, such programs having helped to reduce a level of children's physical inability. In 2002 four regional branches of social rehabilitation and a special centre were opened as well as implementation of the target programs "Creation of complex system of rehabilitation of disabled", "The accessible environment of life activity for disabled people" was started.

Disabled sportsmen are not neglected and left without attention. In 2002, 47 various tournaments have been carried out in the city. The special merit of our city in this direction is that disabled sportsmen take part in the international competitions where they won medals last year.