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SPOTLIGHT ON REALITY: DOWN SYNDROME CASE REVEALS ARMENIA'S FAILURE TO INTEGRATE THOSE WITH DISABILITIES
Society | 10.02.15 | 14:59
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The story of the Armenian infant born with Down syndrome whose father
(a New Zealander) is taking the boy out of the country, has caused a
wave of social media chatter. The child's father says Armenia is not
a fit place for raising a special needs child - a claim that has once
again raised questions about attitudes in Armenia towards people who
are physically and mentally challenged.
The boy, named Leo, was born January 21 to Samuel Forrest and
RuzanBadalyan. His story became international news last week when
foreign media reported that Forrest was "forced to choose" between his
wife and his child, because Badalyan had disowned the baby.Badalyan
filed for divorce a week after Leo was born and Forrest started a
fund-raising campaign to collect money to sustain the child's welfare
back in New Zealand.
Meanwhile in Armenia, the much-publicized story has aimed a spotlight
at attitudes and perceptions toward those with disabilities.
Prkutyun NGO, center for disabled children aged 16-35 and youth,
established in 1999 exists to help families find solutionsto social,
educational and health care problems, as well as their complete
integration in the society by means of mediation and humanitarian aid.
ArpineAbrahamyan, head of the center said she does nothave any official
statistics of how many children are born with Down syndrome in Armenia,
however she said that it occurs in about one in 800 births.
"During recent years they check during pregnancy and in case of
confirmation of the syndrome, they turn to abortion. Because of this
there will be fewer children born like that, but I know that annually
5-6 children are sent to Gyumri orphanage," Abrahamyan said adding
that six children with that syndrome study at their center.
The mother of one of their students, whose 22-year-old son has attended
the center for seven years, said that in Armenia,Prkutyun center is
the only salvation for her son. The mother (who did not want her name
publicized) said that a few days after the child was born they found
out that the boy has Down syndrome, and they had never heard about
it before.
"After three daughters I finally gave birth to a son, and with this
disease, everyone around said to give him away, but both my husband,
and my children and I were critically against that idea. Giving him
away was excluded. Certainly, it is very difficult to bring them
up, and the more they grow up the harder it gets, and I can never
judge parents of such children who give them away, but I think that
living in a family is the best," the woman said adding that her son
is registered at Avan psychiatric hospital. The family is provided
with free medication and receives about $45 a month pension for people
with disabilities.
But the woman, a widow, cannot leave her son alone and go to work,
and with the little pension money it is simply impossible to sustain
themselves. Her only hope is help from relatives.
Nevertheless, more than physical difficulties, the mother says,
the hardest thing issociety's attitude toward her son.
"Our society has not grown enough yet to accept such children. When
I take public transportation people look at me strangely. Imagine
a parent going out with a son, and everyone around staring; it is
very difficult for a parent," the mother said, adding that the only
environment where her son can feel as a complete human is Prkutyun
center.
Center headAbrahamyan said that when a child is born with disabilities,
parents have to go through several stages, which they do not always
overcome with success.
"First of all, the family is shocked, they do not understand why.
Next, they have to get used to the idea, that there is such problem
in their family. Thirdly, they have to comply with the environment
as well. The fourth is the fight for the child, so that it enters
the world completely, enters the educational system," Abrahamyan said.
According to Abrahamyan, in developed countries people with Down
syndrome have wide opportunities; they receive education, get jobs,
and are fully involved in social life. But she says with regret that
Armenian society is not yet ready to accept such children, and the
state hardly takes any measures to help.
"The children can perfectly behave themselves, we go to the movies,
to the theatre, to cafeterias with them. If there is no desire to
work with them, then it is pointless to expect good results. But even
with children with the harshest problems in case of good work there
are positive outcomes," Abrahamyan said.
http://armenianow.com/society/60497/samuel_forrest_ruzanbadalyan_downsyndrome_disabled _in_armenia
From: A. Papazian
Society | 10.02.15 | 14:59
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The story of the Armenian infant born with Down syndrome whose father
(a New Zealander) is taking the boy out of the country, has caused a
wave of social media chatter. The child's father says Armenia is not
a fit place for raising a special needs child - a claim that has once
again raised questions about attitudes in Armenia towards people who
are physically and mentally challenged.
The boy, named Leo, was born January 21 to Samuel Forrest and
RuzanBadalyan. His story became international news last week when
foreign media reported that Forrest was "forced to choose" between his
wife and his child, because Badalyan had disowned the baby.Badalyan
filed for divorce a week after Leo was born and Forrest started a
fund-raising campaign to collect money to sustain the child's welfare
back in New Zealand.
Meanwhile in Armenia, the much-publicized story has aimed a spotlight
at attitudes and perceptions toward those with disabilities.
Prkutyun NGO, center for disabled children aged 16-35 and youth,
established in 1999 exists to help families find solutionsto social,
educational and health care problems, as well as their complete
integration in the society by means of mediation and humanitarian aid.
ArpineAbrahamyan, head of the center said she does nothave any official
statistics of how many children are born with Down syndrome in Armenia,
however she said that it occurs in about one in 800 births.
"During recent years they check during pregnancy and in case of
confirmation of the syndrome, they turn to abortion. Because of this
there will be fewer children born like that, but I know that annually
5-6 children are sent to Gyumri orphanage," Abrahamyan said adding
that six children with that syndrome study at their center.
The mother of one of their students, whose 22-year-old son has attended
the center for seven years, said that in Armenia,Prkutyun center is
the only salvation for her son. The mother (who did not want her name
publicized) said that a few days after the child was born they found
out that the boy has Down syndrome, and they had never heard about
it before.
"After three daughters I finally gave birth to a son, and with this
disease, everyone around said to give him away, but both my husband,
and my children and I were critically against that idea. Giving him
away was excluded. Certainly, it is very difficult to bring them
up, and the more they grow up the harder it gets, and I can never
judge parents of such children who give them away, but I think that
living in a family is the best," the woman said adding that her son
is registered at Avan psychiatric hospital. The family is provided
with free medication and receives about $45 a month pension for people
with disabilities.
But the woman, a widow, cannot leave her son alone and go to work,
and with the little pension money it is simply impossible to sustain
themselves. Her only hope is help from relatives.
Nevertheless, more than physical difficulties, the mother says,
the hardest thing issociety's attitude toward her son.
"Our society has not grown enough yet to accept such children. When
I take public transportation people look at me strangely. Imagine
a parent going out with a son, and everyone around staring; it is
very difficult for a parent," the mother said, adding that the only
environment where her son can feel as a complete human is Prkutyun
center.
Center headAbrahamyan said that when a child is born with disabilities,
parents have to go through several stages, which they do not always
overcome with success.
"First of all, the family is shocked, they do not understand why.
Next, they have to get used to the idea, that there is such problem
in their family. Thirdly, they have to comply with the environment
as well. The fourth is the fight for the child, so that it enters
the world completely, enters the educational system," Abrahamyan said.
According to Abrahamyan, in developed countries people with Down
syndrome have wide opportunities; they receive education, get jobs,
and are fully involved in social life. But she says with regret that
Armenian society is not yet ready to accept such children, and the
state hardly takes any measures to help.
"The children can perfectly behave themselves, we go to the movies,
to the theatre, to cafeterias with them. If there is no desire to
work with them, then it is pointless to expect good results. But even
with children with the harshest problems in case of good work there
are positive outcomes," Abrahamyan said.
http://armenianow.com/society/60497/samuel_forrest_ruzanbadalyan_downsyndrome_disabled _in_armenia
From: A. Papazian