Happy International Child Rights Day

Hello Audience  Today, the 20th of November, is a very special day for the promotion, respect, and protection of children's rights.. Do you know why?  We hope you guessed it - It is the International Child Rights day!  Despite the numerous issues that are prevailing and that fail to be properly addressed, children's rights have gone a long way since the 20th of November 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and opened it for signature. The emergence of the convention changed the way children are viewed and treated, as it recognizes children as human beings with a distinct set of rights.   HappyInternational ChildRights Day !  Test your knowledge!    How well do you know children's rights ? We are inviting you to take part of a fun quiz to test your knowledge on children's rights, and invite your friends and family to do the same. There is a prize to be won if you manage to correctly answer all our 13 questions! Are you ready for the challenge?  The State of Children's Rights Around the World  In 2016, there are still around 30 countries in which the situation of children's rights is extremely concerning, and fundamental rights are not upheld. Our campaign denounced states' failure to protect children, but also sought to highlight some successes.     The 8 Fundamental Rights  This month, our advocacy campaign for International Child Rights Day focused on the 8 fundamental rights of the child, found in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. This Convention has been ratified by all countries except the United States. Its implementation is monitored by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, a group of experts who give recommendations to states on how to ensure children's rights. Learn more about the work of the Committee and the CRC!    We designated 3 days per fundamental right. Let us give you a brief overview of these 8 fundamental rights by giving you a glimpse of what they mean, and a fact relating to an aspect of that right today.  1. The Right to Life A child's right to life is a fundamental right which governs all their other existing rights. For children, the right to life is the chance to be able to live and have the possibility to grow, to develop and become adults. It comprises two essential aspects: the right to have one's life protected from birth and the right to be able to survive and develop appropriately. Despite every child's right to life, 5.9 million children under 5 died in 2015. The majority of deaths were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan . Look how it is distributed amongst countries !  (Source: UNICEF) 2. The Right to Health A child has the right to a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. It is closely linked to other fundamental human rights, most notably access to drinking water and adequate hygiene. A child's right to health requires extra attention in order for children to enjoy the best possible health. 3. The Right to Food A child has the right to food. That means he or she is entitled to have all nutritional elements to live a healthy and active life. Despite this, more than half of the death of children under 5 years are caused by malnutrition. Due to climate change, 24 million children will suffer from hunger in 2050. Half of them would be in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Today only 30 countries in the world have explicit protection of the right to food in their national laws. 4. The Right to Identity A child has the right to an identity. He or she should have a name and a nationality at birth. Without an identity, a child is invisible, does not exist under the law and is vulnerable to rights' violations. 5. The Right to Freedom What does the right to freedomconcretely mean for children? The freedom to bike, to play in a sports team, to sing, to draw, and to think - it's also the freedom to express himself or herself in her or his own way, to manifest his or her religion, and the freedom of association and peaceful assembly.  Daesh endoctrinates thousands of children, restrains they liberties and makes them follow a particular curriculum based on extremism in order to drive them "pure" 6. The Right to Education Primary school is compulsory for children around the world. A child's right to education is essential to help him or her develop his or her personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential.  7. The Right to Water Children should have access to water, sanitation and hygiene, which contribute to their health and development. The right to water means that water should be available (sufficient and continuous), of quality and safe, and accessible to all physically and without discrimination, as well as affordable. 8. The Right to Protection A child has the right to be protected from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. Special protection must be ensured to vulnerable children such as: children without parental care, children with disabilities, displaced children, refugee children and unaccompanied migrant children and children from marginalised minorities, ethnic and religious groups. Have you read our article on the efforts of Lebanon to protect street children?   Lebanon made the commitment to eliminate the worst forms of child labour in its country by 2016.  This special day also marks the 8th birthday of Humanium. Thank you for all your support, we could not have achieved all that we have achieved throughout these years without it !  Yours truly, The Humanium Team  www.humanium.org Donate Now

Down Syndrome Center Rehabelation Center in Pula,Croatia

SHORT INTRODUCTION OF CENTER FOR REHABILITATION DOWN SYNDROME CENTER PULA, CROATIA

Center for rehabilitation Down syndrome center Pula, Croatia, is non-governmental and non-profit family Center founded in year 2005. It is first and only Center of early rehabilitation that kind in Croatia and southeastern Europe. Main goals of the Center are promoting EDSA values and principles in work with DSy persons and protecting their rights and rights of DSy families as well as all kinds of support for DSy persons and their families.

 Center is situated in city center of Pula, nearby hospital, main stream school and school for persons with special needs on over 1800 sq meters. Three different departments operate inside it: Daily center, Housing and Department of co-operation and exchange.

 In Daily center we take care of kids from city of Pula and Istria County and rest of Croatia in co-operation with city and local authorities. It is opened from 7am till 7 pm, and during that time kids are attending various work shops and inclusion programs. At this moment 30 persons, age from 13 months up to 54 years, are included in this department..

Together with Ministry of health and social welfare in Housing department we are taking care of all persons with DSy from every area in Croatia where don’t exist conditions for their rehabilitation or possibilities to go to schools and also in cases when such persons live in inadequate family or social circumstances. 

Third Department is focused on co-operation, education and exchange of opinions and experiences of families who visit our Center to support each other, relax and discuss all our needs and problems.

Also, Center provides program of early medical rehabilitation, early rehabilitation of speech, prevention of obesity, recreational and sport programs, art work shops, hydrotherapy in see during the summer and in pool with warm see water during the winter as well as different inclusion programs with emphasis on sport inclusion programs.

 

We would like to point out that Center, in partnership with Clinic Children Hospital Kantrida-Rijeka, Medical faculty of University of Rijeka and Teachers college Pula, is educating new generation of medical and teaching staff . In future this work should improve public awareness and it will lead to better integration of persons with DSy in every day life and develop higher lever of quality in their life. Also, with support of Government of Republic of Croatia, Center is preparing first Register of persons with DSy and medical guide lines for children and adolescents with DSy. Implementation of these projects in national legislation will increase level of medical and social rights of persons with DSy and their families.

Center is member of EDSA and in our work we fully apply principles, values and mission of EDSA. EDSA office Croatia is working on education all kinds of professionals and volunteers who works with Down syndrome persons. In next step these professionals, with support of Center, are supposed to help any family in Croatia, regardless where they are situated. Finally, EDSA office Croatia is promoting EDSA values in all other countries of region, giving all interested subjects information, support and all other help they need.

Although, all this activities sometimes require lot of work and scarifying we are satisfied and happy to se smiles our kids faces and we will continue to work hard to secure our kids better future.

 Sincerely Yours 

Branka Butorac, MD

Headmaster of Down syndrome Center Pula

Izrada i održavanje: www.proidea.hr
To know more

Wilson Center One Of The Top Rehabilitation Center In New Zealand

Wilson Centre

Address

1 St Leonards Rd
Takapuna
Auckland

Contact

Phone: +64 9 488 4688 

Services
Email: rehab@waitematadhb.govt.nz

Respite Services (Out of Home Support)
Email: respite@waitematadhb.govt.nz 

Healthpoint provides up-to-date information about our services at Waitemata DHB. Find out more about our Wilson Centre service

About the Wilson Centre

• Located in Takapuna in park-like grounds, within walking distance of the beach, shops and buses
• Has a purpose-built playground, hydrotherapy pool, and provides a range of services to families in the Auckland Region and beyond
  

Rehabilitation Service

• The Child Rehabilitation Service provides comprehensive, family-centred rehabilitation services to children from 0-16 years old, or while still at school
• The service caters for inpatients, day patients, and outpatients
• Specialist clinics are provided onsite
  

Respite Service

• Respite care (out of home support) is provided for children from 0-16 years of age who have high support needs
• This service provides periodic relief to families who have children with multiple or complex needs living at home or in the community
• Take services from Wilson Center 

Our Sunny World One Of The Top Child Rehabilitation Center In Russia

Rehabilitation Center for Children 

With 

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

OUR SUNNY WORLD

(Non-government, non-profit organization)

Russia, Moscow

+79037770995

igor@solnechnymir.ru

www.oursunnyworld.com

www.solnechnymir.ru

Founded in 1991, Our Sunny World is one of the first organizations in Russia that helps children and young adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental challenges rehabilitate and adapt to become healthy members of the society.

OUR IDEOLOGY

We are sure that every person is absolutely valuable despite individual peculiarities and that the only criteria of 'norm' is the possibility for each individual child to adequately develop within the society.

OUR MISSION

We strive to give professional help to each child with ASD and their families. Our mission is to aid such children in development, rehabilitation and social adaptation.

OUR GOAL

We want to help as many children with autism and other developmental challenges, provide such help at no cost and pass on the knowledge that we've collected for over twenty years to as many professionals as possible.

OUR HISTORY

Our Sunny World was founded in 1991 by specialists and parents of children with autism and other developmental challenges. It was the first center in Russia that used hippotherapy in rehabilitation of children with limited abilities.

Starting in 1992, the Center opened a program of rehabilitation and social adaptation for children with ASD and other developmental challenges. The Center's history holds over twenty years of 'selection' of most effective rehabilitation and behavior correction methods.

In 1992, with the help of the Ministry of Social Protection of the Russian Federation, Our Sunny World became the first center in Russia to organize a summer rehabilitation camp for the children with autism (inclusive). To this day, the Center organizes an annual summer camp for children with ASD.

Our Sunny World works according to the Program of Integrated Eco-system Rehabilitation and Social Adaptation of Children and Young Adults with Autism and Developmental Challenges that was first introduced in 1997 at the 9th International FRDI Congress in Denver, Colorado and was released as a brochure in 2002.

In 2011, together with Yulia Erts Naftulieva, who is a certified behavioral analyst (MA, BCBA), the Center created the “Correctional Work with Childrend with Autism Based on Applied Behavioral Analysis Project (theory and practice)”. The project offers education in behavioral analysis with the possibility of receiving the highest degree – BCBA, which is approved by the International Committee (www.bacb.com). This program consists of 225 hours and teaches four modules. As of the beginning of 2014, 120 specialists graduated the Program with three graduates successfully passing the international exam and receiving BCBA. Approximately 40 specialists and over 400 parents completed the online version of the program.

In 2013, Our Sunny World became the Primary Partner in action Light it Up Blue in Russia of the international organization Autism Speaks.

In 2013, Our Sunny Word became the only Russian organization to become part of the European association Autism Europe, which unites the leading institutions from 30 European countries and protects the rights of people with autism in the European Union.

In 2013, the UN Secretary-General – Ban Ki-moon – personally thanked the Igor Shpitsberg and rehabilitation center Our Sunny World for its effective help to children with ASD in Russia.

In 2014 Director of Our Sunny World – Igor Shpitsberg was elected as a member of Council of Administration ofInternational organization Autism Europe.

INTEGRATED REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Our Sunny World realizes its Integrated Rehabilitation Program that is based on methodologies developed by the Center's specialists, as well as most effective international methodologies.

The Center's director – Igor Shpitsberg – developed the Method of Correcting Sensor-Based System Developmental Peculiarities in Children with ASD, which allows to substantially restore the deficit of normal perception and greatly improve the process of interaction of a child with autism with the society (patent number 2412727). The Method has been used for over fifteen years and helped many children improve their perception ability, giving them the possibility to participate in a 'healthy' society. The Method is part of the Integrated Rehabilitation Program of the Center.

The process of development, rehabilitation and social adaptation of children and young adults with autistic spectrum disorders and other developmental challenges is active throughout the year and includes:

· individual work with specialists in ABA, TEACCH, Floortime, somatosensory therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, productive activity, art therapy, music therapy, alternative communication methods (computer, iPad, PECS) and others;

· game therapy (individual sessions and folk game groups);

· various theater forms (puppetry, role, shadow);

· traditional craft workshops (ceramics, weaving, timber, fulling) and artistic studios (painting and music);

· riding therapy and riding sport for the handicapped;

· therapeutic massage, adaptive physical therapy and athletics, dance therapy;

· a social project, 'scouting' project and interacting club for young adults with ASD and other developmental challenges;

· mini-projects: preparation to integrate into day care, grade-school preparation;

· projects that help form social skills in children with ASD during group work and others;

· cartoon and film studios;

· special programs that work with parents of children with ASD;

· tutoring programs;

· 'Village' project which teaches independent living skills for adults with ASD and other developmental challenges;

· intensive rehabilitation course at a country integration summer camp.

EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIVE WORK

Our Sunny World continually passes on the experience that its specialists gathered in over twenty years. The Center regularly holds round tables, seminars and trainings for rehabilitation specialists from Moscow and other regions, as well as parents of children with ASD. Our specialists hold scientific research and write methodology materials on developmental problems, rehabilitation and social adaptation.

Since it was founded, the Center Our Sunny World continually cooperates with organizations and institutes that prepare specialists in the field of correctional education and rehabilitation (Moscow Psychology-Educational University, Russian State Social University, Correctional Education Institute, etc.) in Moscow and other Russian cities, as well as in other CIS countries and in the far abroad.

Our Sunny World - a non-profit non-governmental organization. We have the financial support of funds, the state (some projects) and parents.

We want to help as many children with autism and other developmental challenges, provide such help at no cost and pass on the knowledge that we've collected for over twenty years to as many professionals as possible.

Each week, our center is visited by over three hundred children aged one-and-a-half years and older and young adults with autism and other developmental challenges. Here, they are helped by seventy highly qualified specialists and volunteers to adapt to the society. In over twenty years, our specialists have helped change the quality of life of several thousand children and their families. With the help of our Center, many children with ASD are able to attend regular day care, schools (correctional, as well as regular), and have a socially active lifestyle.

Many of our specialists are the parents of children with ASD and other developmental challenges. We also employ several adults with ASD who were earlier our students. 

WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

“For the first time since the passing of the UN Resolution commemorating April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day, Russia participated in WAAD activities and Light it Up Blue. A special meeting hosted by advocacy organization, “Our Sunny World”, took place at the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation in Moscow, during which a photo exhibit featuring individuals with autism and their families in their everyday lives was presented (right). “Our Sunny World”, in collaboration with Ria Novosti (one of the largest news agencies in Russia) and the Minister of Culture in Moscow also selected a number of buildings to go blue on April 2nd.” (GAPH Partner World Autism Awareness Day & Light it Up Blue Activities: 2013 Summary)

As an expert of the Government Council of Guardianship under the Government of Russian Federation, director of Our Sunny World Igor Shpitsberg was able to deliver a letter from the founders of the Autism Speaks Bob and Suzanne Wright to the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dr. Olga Golodets asking to support the international campaign “Light it up blue”.

The action was supported by the Government of Russia and on the April 2, 2013 Moscow, the capital of Russia had many buildings highlighted including the building of the Moscow CityHall

2014 - Our Sunny World acted as one of the main organizers of the

First Russian Forum of parents of children with autism. (was attended by 250 parents from 35 cities of Russia) A resolution which included all the requirements for public structures of parents of children with autism was adopted at the forum. 

2014 - Our Sunny World published a book of Dr. Stephen Shore "beyond the wall" in Russian. Dr. Shore took part in First Russian Forum of parents of children with ASD (Moscow, Russia)

2014 - Our Sunny World the one of initiators of the 1-st Russian National conference on autism

Today, Our Sunny World is one of the most effective rehabilitation centers in Russia and other countries, such as Ukraine, Latvia and Belarus. In fact, we are a 'resource education center' where specialists and parents of children with autism can learn how to effectively work with children with ASD. 

Our Center participates in many professional and social councils, including ones associated with the Ministry of Health, Education and Social Protection of the Russian Federation and actively participates in creating the necessary environment for people with autism and their families. 

We strive to aid our country in creating such necessary systems/institutions as early diagnostics, early help, inclusiveness, job placement, family help, and positive social environment for people with autism. 

Our Director, Igor Shpitsberg, is a member of many governmental and public councils and organizations on questions on autism and plays the leading role in our Center, as well as Russia, in helping solve questions of successful social adaptation of people with ASD.

Our Sunny World is one of the leading ‘guardians’ of the best Russian and international experience in helping children with ASD and their families in Russia. The experience gathered in over thirty years by European and American organizations is extremely important to us, our specialists and Russian parents of children with ASD. Russia is just starting to build institutions to help children and adults with autism and our Center takes the leading role in this process. We are in great need of support of parents and specialists from other countries and we have utmost respect to their experience.

Igor Shpitsberg, 

Director of Our Sunny World 

and parent of 26 year old a child with autism:

· Member of Council of Administration of International organization Autism Europe.

• Member of an interdepartmental group on questions of integrated socio-medical and psycho-educational help for people with autistic spectrum disorders, organized by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation;

• Expert of the Council to the Government of the Russian Federation on questions of guardianship in the social sphere;
• Assistant to the Rector of the Moscow Psychology-Educational University on questions of professional help to the children with autistic spectrum disorders;
• Senior scientific member of the Inclusive (Integrating) Education Problems Institute of the Moscow Psychology-Educational University;
• Member of the Coordinating Council on questions of handicapped children and other people with limited vital functions at the Civic Chamber Committee on Social Politics, Working Relations and Quality of Life of the Citizens of the Russian Federation;
• Member of the Young Invalids Public Council at the Department of Social Protection of Moscow;
• Member of the RIA News Autism International Expert Council; 
• Board Member of the National Federation of Riding Therapy and Sport Riding for the Handicapped;
• Editing Council member of the Autism and Development Peculiarities magazine;
• Since 1991, regular participant of congresses on development and improvement of rehabilitation methods for children with ASD;
• Author of methodology on correcting peculiarities in sensor-based system development in children with ASD (patent number 2412727);
• Author of the Eco-system Rehabilitation Concept. Was first introduced as author on the International Rehabilitation Conference in Denver (USA) in 1997. One of the initiators of creating the first in Russia center of riding therapy (1991);
• Author of the first in Russia special communicative-developing application for children with autism for iPad (2012). http://itunes.apple.com/ru/app/autizm-obsenie/id526733108?mt=8

In May of 2013, Secretary-general of the United Nations – Ban Ki-moon – personally thanked Igor Shpitsberg for his devotion to the help to people that suffer from autistic spectrum disorders.