A forum titled "One Step Toward Independence" named after Yesbolat Balbayev, dedicated to the effective rehabilitation of people with disabilities and to boosting their self-reliance in daily life, was held in Atyrau. The event was organized by the Biz de adambyz public foundation, infohub.kz reports.
The forum's central theme was building self-care skills during rehabilitation. Participants stressed the importance of starting such work at the very first stage of rehabilitation. Along with restoring a person's physical capabilities, this approach enables them to act independently in everyday life.
During a panel session, participants exchanged experience and discussed ways to improve the rehabilitation system and create conditions for independent living. The practical part featured three interactive zones presenting experience in incorporating self-care skills into rehabilitation programs.
According to Zhasulan Kabdolov, an instructor at the Biz de adambyz public foundation, rehabilitation should not be limited to restoring a person's physical capabilities — it should aim to increase their independence. The forum allowed participants to share practices in this area and prepare proposals for improving the rehabilitation system.
Since 2021, with the support of Tengizchevroil, the Biz de adambyz foundation has been running the "Effective Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities" project. Under the project, wheelchair users are taught independent-living skills. To date, 13 camps for people with disabilities and volunteers have been held, bringing together more than 100 wheelchair users and more than 100 volunteers.
In addition, the project includes comprehensive support measures for people who have suffered a stroke, sports and cultural programs, and short-term courses for learning new professions.