ANDIJAN, April 23. / Dunyo IA /. A press tour for representatives of leading media outlets in Uzbekistan concluded in Andijan region, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Yesterday, on the final day of the press tour, journalists visited a number of schools and boarding institutions for children with disabilities.

The day began with a visit to Specialized preschool educational institution No. 40 for children with special needs in Andijan city, which accommodates 120 children. The facility includes a speech therapy room, a physiotherapy gym, and a rehabilitation room. It employs 68 staff members, including educators, doctors, nurses, and technical personnel.

The educational program at the institution operates for 10.5 hours per day. Currently, the facility accommodates 11 specialized groups, each tailored to meet the specific needs of children with various disabilities. One of these groups, known as the G’amxo’rlik guruhi (Special Care group), is dedicated to children with severe developmental disorders and includes 8 children. Five groups serve children with motor impairments, with a combined enrollment of 55 children. Three groups are designated for children with delayed mental and speech development, collectively educating 36 children. Additionally, there is one group for children with profound hearing impairments, comprising 11 students, and another group for children with specific speech disorders, consisting of 9 students. In total, the institution provides care and education for 119 children.

The institution’s primary objective is not only to care for children with significant intellectual disabilities and provide health-related services but also to assist in the employment of parents, relieve them from constant caregiving duties, increase family incomes, and, importantly, enhance their socio-economic activity within society.

Odina Narmatova, a staff member of the institution:

– Our primary objective is to raise children, provide corrective rehabilitation, prepare them for social integration, and promote their holistic development. We conduct individual rehabilitation in collaboration with speech therapists, psychologists, masseurs, orthopedic doctors, and neurologists to achieve positive results. In the past year, we successfully rehabilitated and integrated over 20 children into regular schools. Moving forward, we aim to achieve even more significant outcomes.

Following this, the media representatives visited Specialized boarding school No. 17 for children with special needs (particularly for children with hearing impairments) in Khodjaabad district, which provides educational, social, and vocational training for its students.

Ibrokhimjon Rakhmanov, the director of Specialized boarding school No. 17 for children with special needs:

– Education here covers natural sciences, mathematics, social subjects, and corrective disciplines. The educational process is conducted by qualified teachers with higher education. Special attention is given to speech development. Eighteen teachers focus on this area at both primary and secondary levels. In the 2024-2025 academic year, 17 graduates of our school successfully continued their education: four entered universities, six are training under a "mentor-apprentice" system, three have started individual businesses, and another four are engaged in handicrafts. We offer various workshops for the children, including sewing, design, handicrafts, hairdressing, shoemaking, and locksmithing. The main goal of these activities is to help youth find their place in society and support their families. The students receive free, four-time hot meals, housing, and are under constant medical supervision.

The next stop for the journalists was the "Muruvvat" boarding house for children with disabilities in Kurgantepa district. Since the beginning of 2024, 13 children have been reunited with their families from the boarding house. In addition, 15 children have been transferred to specialized schools, based on their abilities and developmental levels.

The boarding house actively promotes children’s social engagement, offering sports activities, sewing lessons, and primary education. The children effectively represent the institution in various Paralympic competitions.

Ravshanbek Muydinov, the director of the "Muruvvat" boarding house for children with disabilities:

– Our goal is to further improve children’s socialization, return them to their families, integrate them into society, foster independence, and engage them in sports and extracurricular activities according to their capabilities. We actively collaborate with district and city social support centers, aiming to strengthen the bond between children and their parents and ensure their full participation in societal life.

During the press tour, journalists also met with the parents of the children and learned about the support and assistance they receive from the government and institution staff. Parents highlighted the improved conditions for their children, the professionalism of the specialists, and the warm atmosphere within the boarding schools and specialized institutions.

The organizers of the press tour expressed confidence that such events will contribute to the further enhancement of the effectiveness of ongoing programs and expand the public dialogue on issues concerning the rights and interests of children with disabilities. The press secretary of the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of Uzbekistan, Dilfuza Ruzmetova, emphasized that in the eyes of these children, there is visible hope – sincere, pure, and unquenchable. It is for this hope that we must continue creating a world where every child feels needed, protected, and loved.