Decent life for Disabled Persons

On these December days Kazakhstan celebrates its most important public holiday – the 20th Anniversary of Independence. It seems as though all the Kazakhstani people united to show their best achievements, demonstrate their progress in various fields and spheres and share their plans for the future.

The “Saby” Charitable Foundation also has demonstrated its achievements, because, without any exaggeration, we have made a lot to be proud of. The “Saby” Charitable Foundation is basically engaged in social activity. And a special place is given to our Project – “Decent Life to Disabled people” which is covering almost 16 locations/settlements all over the Republic. Ant it is important to note that all the State Authorities of the Republic are representing this Project as the one having the republican status.

And on the Independence Day the “Saby” Charitable Foundation has made a significant contribution to the Program to support people with disabilities: two specially equipped “invataxies” were given both to Uralsk and Ekibastuz under the Project. There are the Transport Services to be operating in these two cities for the first time (with the assistance of Societies of the Disabled) to ensure trouble-free movement of people using wheelchairs. Moreover, Volkswagen Caddy was additionally transported to Taraz where there is also “Invataxi” Service operating for more than a year and a half.

People with disabilities are transported regardless of their membership in some or other organization, and is provided on the basis of those enquiries addressed to the Dispatcher Services (see contact telephones here). This service is provided free of charge in compliance with those regulations and limits existing in each the region of the Republic.

Photos of “Invataxi” Service Uralsk and Ekibastuz

3 years have passed from the start of the project “Decent life to disabled persons”. And we, together with public organizations of disabled persons that have received invataxi vehicles from our Foundation, are proud to share the results.

At this date the “Saby” Foundation has purchased 50 vehicles, of which 9 cars are currently being re-equipment at the factory in Germany and, as they become available in Almaty they will be distributed in different regions of Kazakhstan.

Today, the “Invataxi” free social taxi service for people with disabilities is operating in 14 cities of our country. Each car is equipped with special hydraulic lifts, which makes it easier to carry out landing for wheelchair users. It is very important – now passengers, who have difficulties in movement, do not need to transfer from wheelchairs to car seats, and back.
The importance and necessity of transport services are supported by numerous grateful responds in log books assigned to each car.

Vadim TOROPOV, Chairman of the City Association of Disabled Persons, Shymkent:
“I want to say that the organization of the “Invataxi” service in Shymkent has changed many things, and the most important one is the attitude of citizens towards people with disabilities. Before, there were false stereotypes that we did not have any disabled persons because they were all sitting at home. Due to the project launched by the President of the “Saby” Foundation Assel Tasmagambetova, people with disabilities have started feeling full-fledged citizens. Participation in various cultural events held in the town, visiting social, medical, educational and other institutions – all this has become possible. In turn, the attitude to the organization of disabled persons from state institutions and citizens of South Kazakhstan region has also changed”

Maral NURALINA, dispatcher of the “Invataxi” service, Association for protection of disabled citizens of Aktobe:
“Establishment of a specialized taxi service for people with disabilities in Aktobe has become a great progress of all people! Such a big step ahead in the development of social life of our city has become possible with the help of the “Saby” Charitable Foundation, which has given our Association two specialized vehicles for transportation of wheelchair users. Now, many disabled persons using the services of the social taxi can move to their targets”

Shakhan ZHULDASBAYEV, consistent user of the “Invataxi” service, Aktobe:
“In June 2007 I met with an accident: I got under the wheels of a car. Diagnosis: cervical vertebra fractured. For a long time I received medical treatment and rehabilitation in Kazakhstan and Russia. I do not want to talk about that terrible days and suffering of mu relatives. Now it’s all over. I have disability of I category and I want to live. Recently, I have got a job in the Association of Disabled Persons of Aktobe city. Due to the fact that I live 20 kilometers from the city, a comfortable “Invataxi” car brings me every day to my work and back. I know that many people are using the “Invataxi” services, but there are a lot of people who want to use it. I sincerely thank all my friends and relatives, the city management, Association for protection of disabled citizens of Aktobe and, of course, the “Saby” Charitable Foundation for the opportunity to start my life again. Let our city have more such kind people and such equipment that facilitates lives of those people who have lost the ability to move independently. I will try to justify your and my hopes”

In order to take advantage of “Invataxi” service you should call the dispatcher one day before the trip and order the service (phone numbers for each city are listed in “useful links” at our website).

For a period of already past three years the “Saby” Charitable Foundation has been engaged in implementing the Project “Decent Life to Disabled People”. A great scope of works has been performed under the Project: 50 units of specialized vehicles were bought for 16 cities in Kazakhstan to the total amount of more than USD 2 200 000 million. So, the people who have difficulties in their movement outdoors including those ones being “confined” to their wheelchairs – today can go out, run their own business and take part in the social life like we all do!

But we are not satisfied with the results which have been already achieved. In order to improve the quality of servicing of wheelchair users, we are planning to equip each “Invataxi” Transport Service with a special crawler-tracked mechanism to be used for ups and downs of wheelchairs up- and down-stairs, as the majority of our wheelchair users are living in high-rise buildings. Unfortunately, up to the date we have up and down wheelchair users in the arms of their relatives and personal assistants. That is very difficult and dangerous.

Being focused on the given problem, our Foundation began the process of accumulating the funds for procurement of such mechanisms the cost of which is over USD 10 000 per 1 set, and their further uncompensated transfer to all the existing Societies of Disabled People cooperating with us under the given Project.

Yesterday, in Association of Parents of Disabled Children (APDC) took place a press-conference on the occasion of a large amount of assets contributed by a sponsor for development of the Saby’s Project “Decent Life to Disabled People” to improve the quality of life of those people with physical disabilities by means of free of charge transport services of “Invataxi”.

Using the sponsor’s money our Foundation has acquired four special Volkswagen brand cars: “Transporter” minibus will go to “Eldani” Foundation; two “Caddy” cars will go to Almaty Society of the Disabled, and a bus “Crafter” will go to APDC. These vehicles will be used to transport children and young people with difficulties in their mental and physical development to help them in their further rehabilitation, psychological development and adaptation.

During the conference all the charity recipients were awarded Gift Certificates for using motor vehicles at the presence of sponsor’s authorized representatives, speakers of Akimat and Department of Labor, Employment and Social Protection as well as regular “Clients” of “Invataxi” services.

All recipient Organizations expressed high appreciation and gratitude to their philanthropists, shared with the results of their activities and represented their new copyrighted programs for creative and physical development of children and young people with disabilities. Because of these disabilities they have no chances to live like other people do and have to spend all their time within four walls inside their houses or apartments. However, today they have an opportunity to be transported by transport vehicles which have all the equipment required for the disabled people.

Links:
Общественно-политическая газета «Литер»
«Известия Казахстан»
Информационный портал www.zakon.kz
Комсомольская правда Казахстан

«Invataxi» service which is granting free transport services to people with the limited possibilities has begun the activity in Ust-Kamenogorsk. As we informed earlier that regional center VKO has received as a gift two specialized cars from Fund “Saby” within the limits of project «Decent life for Disabled Persons».

Implementation of the project “Decent Life for Disabled Persons” is continuing in regions of our country. Another batch of specialized vehicles has been bought: unique technique will arrive to Almaty in five months and will be distributed to societies of disabled persons in three cities of Kazakhstan.

Given the previous successful experience we continue to form a pair of cars of Volkswagen Caddy and Volkswagen Transporter models for each city as the most rational variant of transportation of disabled persons.

A positive public response and appreciation of regional administrations are the result of two-year work of the “Saby” Foundation in this direction.

A seminar organized by the Almaty City Association of Disabled Persons has been held in the Alatau Therapeutic Recreation Complex, Almaty, as part of the social project “Decent Life for Disabled Persons”, the purpose of which was to develop a single system in Kazakhstan – “Invataxi” in the sphere of rendering transportation services for people with disabilities.

Opening of the seminar was held on April 18. The welcoming speech was made by a representative of the “Saby” Foundation that had developed the project “Decent Life for Disabled Persons”, within the framework of which 41 specially-equipped vehicles were purchased and donated to the 14 regions of the country to transport wheelchair users. Sets of computer equipment were presented to all participants on behalf of the Foundation in order to improve the work of dispatching services, as well as to unify reporting on the operation of vehicles. In turn, public associations of disabled persons of Kazakhstan expressed their gratitude to the “Saby” Foundation and exchanged reports on the status of development and activity of “Invataxi” services in regions.

On April 19, a working day of the seminar, the following matters were discussed: common rules and technical specifications for carriage of disabled persons, special programs and recommendations for the work of “Invataxi” services. All participants received appropriate manuals and were trained to use a new computer program for dispatching services.

The “Saby” Charitable Foundation believes that this project will promote equal opportunities for people who use wheelchairs as well as for other categories of disabled persons who have difficulties in walking.

Another batch of “Invataxi” vehicles were delivered to Almaty from Germany, which were purchased by the “Saby” Foundation at the end of last year. The new owners of special transport are associations of disabled persons from Ust-Kamenogorsk and Kyzylorda that start rendering free transportation services to persons having special difficulties in walking.

As for Shymkent, the two cars were presented to the city last year. However, according to the decision of the Foundation two additional vehicles will be transferred to the city, because this region is characterized by a great number of people with disabilities who are unable to use public transport.

To date, fourteen non-governmental organizations of people with disabilities from 14 regions of Kazakhstan have 41 “Invataxi” vehicles presented to them by the “Saby” Foundation.

Photos of “Invataxi” Service in Kokchetau and Ust-Kamenogorsk

Photos of “Invataxi” service in Kyzylorda

6 new specially equipped vehicles acquired for disabled persons living in three cities of Kazakhstan were presented by the state holiday – the Independence Day of Kazakhstan. Now these cars are running in Kokshetau, Shymkent and Temirtau – two cars in each city: Volkswagen Caddy and Volkswagen Transporter, and help disabled persons move faster, in comfortable conditions and free of charge.

This event has become a reason for a visit of chairmen of municipal associations of disabled persons to the “Saby” Charitable Foundation, where they received vehicles and all accompanying documents. All guests spoke very friendly about the work of the Foundation under the project “Decent Life for Disabled Persons” and noted its importance for disabled persons.

The project “Decent Life for Disabled Persons” was started in spring 2008 and now it is one of the most important projects of the “Saby” Foundation. The final objective of the project is to organize specialized car fleets of “Invataxi” service in all cities of Kazakhstan.

Photos of the Service “Invataxi” in Shymkent and Temirtau

The Project «Decent Life for Disabled Persons» is now covering the Kazakhstan regions still wider. Saby Foundation is operating under the Project purposefully and thoroughly not limited just to the purchases of specialized motor vehicles for societies of disabled persons, – and we control, in a mandatory manner, a further usage thereof on the basis of the regional Services «Invataxi».

Not less than twice a year, receivers of the said vehicles shall report to the Foundation of the usage thereof. Currently the next date of the semi-annual reporting has come due. Saby Foundation is submitted information on the run and technical condition of motor vehicles, the designated purpose of conveyance, contingent and the age of passengers.

These data are used in planning further stages in the implementation of the program for support of disabled persons, who undergo special difficulties in moving.