PROVIDING EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN WAR CONDITIONS

DOI: 10.31673/2786-7412.2023.011245

Abstract

The war led to a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the resettlement of a significant number of people to other regions and abroad, collective trauma and the need to adapt to the consequences of the conflict. This situation had a particularly acute effect on socially vulnerable categories of persons, in particular on families with children who have developmental disabilities.
Early identification of biological and social factors related to a child's development disorder makes it possible to start intensive rehabilitation in a timely manner to eliminate deviations and minimize disability. The ultimate goal of the early intervention service is appropriate work on early child care and normalization of family life.
Social protection of children with disabilities at an early age was developing in the pre-war period. Now the situation has changed, which determined the reformatting of public policy in the specified area.
Due to intensive military operations, the established network of rehabilitation institutions is not working at full capacity, which has affected the physical difficulty of providing/receiving the specified service. For families with children who have developmental disabilities, services in the field of health care are the most necessary, but they are mostly practically unavailable due to the military operations on the territory of Ukraine and the lack of budget funding in this area.
Material assistance is paid on time and regularly, government documents have been adopted that have expanded the circle of recipients of social assistance for children with disabilities. At the same time, it was found that a significant number of families with children with developmental disabilities need such vital things as funds, medicines, warm clothes, food and water supplies, things for heating and home heating, which proves that the named families mostly have a low level of income.
The military actions have also changed the work of professionals who provide early intervention services and social workers. They are meant to become one of the centers of emotional solidarity of citizens and the spread of the culture of psychological health in society.
On the basis of the analysis of the existing situation, current problems are identified and ways to overcome them are proposed.

Key words: social protection of children with disabilities of early age, early intervention service, war.

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