The Education Development and Employment
Center (EDEC) conducted a four-day training in Borjomi to strengthen Advisory
Councils for people with disabilities within the local government.

Lika Kiladze, Chairperson of the Board of the
Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) introduced the training
goals. Later on the first day of the training, participants got familiar with
the results of the research conducted by the Advisory Board. They were
presented by Tamar Makharadze, Associate Professor from the Faculty of Social
and Political Sciences at the Tbilisi State University.

On the second day, the participants discussed
the labels related to disability conditions, as well as the meaning and
importance of social models. Neli Akobia, Master of Social Work, talked about
the need-based social policies and about the modern approaches in disability
classification.

On the third day of the training, the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other international
or local documents and action plans were presented by Irina Oboladze, Head of
the Department for the Rights of People with Disabilities at the Public
Defender’s Office. Later on, Giga Sopromadze, Executive Secretary of the
Council working with people with disabilities in Tbilisi City Hall talked
about successful cases when people with disabilities were involved in the
implementation of the Convention.

On the last day of the training, participants summarized
the training and planned future activities.

The training was organized as part of the EU-funded
project “Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities.” It is implemented
by Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Georgia (ASB Georgia) in cooperation with its
partner organizations, the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC)
and the Accessible Environment for Everyone.