KSMU News

OCTOBER 15 – INTERNATIONAL WHITE CANE DAY
15th October 2022

The main aim of this day is to draw public attention to the problems of blind people. On the eve of the holiday, with the participation of KSMU volunteers, large-scale actions in support of the visually impaired were carried out in Kursk: examination of public transport for accessibility, duty at pedestrian crossings, where a person with a white cane has an undeniable priority.

Since 2007, the Step Towards volunteer group has been working at KSMU. Coordination of its activity is carried out by the Department of Social Work and Life Safety of Kursk State Medical University and Kursk Regional Organization of the All-Russian Public Organization of Persons with Disabilities All-Russian Blind Association. According to its head A.A. Astashov, at the moment there are 2400 residents of the Kursk region with various visual impairments, including the disabled. The purpose of the volunteer group of KSMU is comprehensive assistance to blind and visually impaired people, creating conditions for students to immerse in a professional environment at the volunteer level.

– The main directions of our activity are mediation connected with registration of disabled people and implementation of the individual program of rehabilitation, support of disabled people in the Rehabilitation Center, on cultural – mass actions, organization of social services – the head of the Step Towards group Veronika Bragina says. We also draw attention to their problems, form a positive image of the disabled, promote employment and full integration into society. Traditionally, this day, the Step Towards group organizes actions. It is important for students of the Faculty of Social Work not just to know how an inclusive environment is formed, but to be its creators.