United in Serving Community

Over the years, the activities and ensuring the sustainability of organisations of handicapped people have been a priority of the city government In the last 5 years, relations between the local government and those organisations have constantly strengthened.

In 2001, the city government launched preparations of a development plan for creating equal opportunities for handicapped people. Upon satisfaction of the needs of handicapped people the city has moved from institutional welfare services to public services and support. The future lies certainly in active engagement in the employment of handicapped people through creation of assisted work, protected and adjusted jobs.

There are 25 organisations in the City of Tartu which unite and supports handicapped. The entire membership of the organisations amounts to 2.500 people and given the fact that the population of Tartu is 100.000 it is a large figure.

The City of Tartu in supporting the organisations of handicapped people. The city has always supported the organisations by providing them with facilities for the meetings and other events. The organisations can use special means of transport within Tartu and outside the city.

In recent years, identification of services necessary for handicapped people and purchase of services from organisations of handicapped people have become important. The first services purchased on a contract basis were sign language interpretation services for the deaf launched in 1998, which, by now, is accompanied by personal assistants for people with movement and visual disabilities, support of computer training of blind people, support person services for mentally challenged people and autistic people, supporting the elderly handicapped people and counselling and running a day care centre for the elderly and handicapped people.

The development for satisfaction of the needs of handicapped people has been fast and the development of public welfare services will continue at the desired pace. This year, the local government has found a way to support readjustment of the dwellings of handicapped people and activities supporting employment of handicapped people should be launched.

It is the organisations of handicapped people who have shown the necessary level of activity by applying for support for their activities and training not only to the city government, but also various foreign funds.

Proceeding from our experiences we can say that the best means of creating equal opportunities for all the people of our city is well functioning cooperation.