As a result, the lives of many children and adults who would have died as a result of their congenital anomalies, injuries, or diseases, live on with disabilities. The integration of these individuals into societal activities has been a result of improved rehabilitation service, which has not only involved medical assistance, but also relates to social rehabilitation, vocational and educational training and legislation. We have to recognize that at the present time in Russia, there already exists medical, vocational and social rehabilitation programs. Most of them are available for people with disabilities. Unfortunately, sometimes only in theory.
Disabled persons meet the barriers in daily life with every step.
Architectural barriers were created through misunderstanding the needs of people with disabilities, and without their participation in decisions about themselves. Historical attitudes to disabled people in Russian society are based on false explanation, charity, and assistance. We have to look on Russian society as a whole, where the very structure is living in its own life, with its own needs, and functioning in collaboration with others, but not for people. Unfortunately, no one can turn the wheel of history, but the achievements of the movement of disabled people around the world, especially in Canada, have shown that we can, and we have to, change attitudes towards people with disabilities in Russia. One article of the Russian Constitution proclaims the same rights for everyone in Russian society.