ABOUT CRDP

CANADA-RUSSIA DISABILITY PROGRAM – CRDP

Program Purpose

Moscow Consultations Planning the New Project

The Canada – Russia Disability Program is a cross-disability multi-partner initiative designed with the purpose of promoting citizenship development by pursuing the social inclusion of Russians with disabilities and the transformation of key disability related cross-sectorial policies and practices as they affect people with disabilities, including psychiatric disorders.

The long-term goal of this program is to contribute to social stability in Russia through a strengthening of the reform elements, such as civil society and good governance, and promoting democratic values, human rights and inclusion of all citizens, particular people with disabilities.

This program is carried out in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Disability Studies – CCDS (lead agency), and the University of Manitoba. The University of Calgary will focus on the area of community mental health, while the other partners are focusing on other disability programs.

Program Components

The Program is driven by Russia priorities that are identified and shared by Russian disability community, governments and academics. The four components pursued are:

• education and professional development,
• developing alternative service delivery models,
• new policy promotion, and
• creating knowledge network.

Program Regions

Change in policy and practice will only take place if sufficient experience is developed in a number of different regions of a country, thereby demonstrating appropriateness in different environments. Towards that end, the Program will be pursued in three main regions at the outset:

• North Caucusus Region (centred in Stavropol),
• Middle Russia (centred in Moscow), and
• Northern Region (centered in Omsk).

Program Streams

• Social Work Stream
• Disability Studies Stream
• Mental Health Stream

Goal and Outcome Objectives

The overall goal is to develop a mental health services system in Russia that is oriented to transformative approaches that place an emphasis on consumer (service user) involvement and empowerment and community-based solutions supported by highly qualified professionals and an understanding population (community).

Cross-Disability Program Overall Objectives

• develop models for education and preparation of faculty, professionals, community leaders and people with disabilities in disability studies, social work and mental health;
• promote alternative models for service delivery - community based social programs/services and a network among them;
• contribute to the development and implementation of public policies which support reform, and promote human rights and better access to services which are reflective of the inclusion of people with disabilities on federal, regional and local levels;
• contribute to the formation of a National (Russia-based) Information and Knowledge based Network of personnel working in NGO, educational, service, research, government and business sectors which support the social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Program Partners

Key Canadian Partners

Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS)
School of Social Work, University of Manitoba (U of M)
Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Program, University of Calgary

Key Russian Partners

National Board of All Russian Society of Disabled People (ARSD)
Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry (MRIP)
North Caucasus State Technical University (NCSTU)
Stavropol Krai Regional Government (Ministry of Labour and Social Protection; Ministry of Education and others)
Governor’ Coordinating Committee on Disability Issues in Stavropol Krai
Moscow State Social University (MSSU)
All Russia Society “New Choices” (a public organization for parents and families of people with psychiatric disabilities)
Association of Down Syndrome and children with disabilities
Association of Parents of children with disabilities