Kindergarten, where everybody is equal (video)
4-year-old Vahe, who has special educational needs, has attended Yerevan number 92 inclusive kindergarten for about a year. The work with a therapist has given its results. Vahe can already walk almost without any help. 
24 children with special educational needs attend Yerevan number 92 kindergarten. For provision of inclusive education in April, 2016 a branch was opened in the kindergarten with the joint efforts of “Arabkir” medical center, the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, “Cronimet” company and Yerevan Municipality. Special teachers and specialized professionals work with the pupils. When a child starts communicating with the children of the same age to some extent, he is included in other groups. The building is adjusted to the children with different problems. It has rehabilitation facilities, a hall for physical education and physiotherapy. 
3-year-old Davit has been visiting the kindergarten’s new branch from the day of it opening. He started uttering some words, differentiates colors, reacts to his name. “After 5 days visiting the kindergarten I noticed the change with my child; he became more organized, more attentive, his vocabulary enlarged, his abilities developed,” says Davit’s mother Marine Piloyan. Another child in the family also has great influence on the life of Davit and children like him. The birth of junior sister contributed to the Davit’s development. If there was a chance, the number of children in three age groups of the kindergarten would be higher. The number of the children waiting for their turn is also high, especially when the classes are free. “Alas, the number is limited, we have children, who need it, but they remain in the list; as of now we have 132 such children,” says Director of number 92 kindergarten Karine Harutyunyan. 
5-year-old Daniel had a chance to become a pupil of the kindergarten, but every day he has to change two minibuses to reach from Davitashen to South-western district. “It is very hard, the child has a problem, we cannot sit in a crowded bus, he always wants to sit by the window,” tells Daniel’s mother Veronica Abrahamyan. But the difficulties aren’t an obstacle, especially when progress has been noticed after the trainings. Another problem in this family is the further process of education for the child. After finishing the kindergarten in all probability Daniel will stay at home, though, according to the law all the children with special educational needs must have a chance to study at secondary school. Since 2000 inclusive education, as a part of educational reforms, is one of the priorities of the RA Government. But even in 17 years many issue remain unsolved. 
“Even New Year holidays and absence because of illness affect the skills the children have acquired, as, I think, it must be continuing, systematic and lasting. If it isn’t lasting, the children will certainly lose everything they have acquired,” says Director of the kindergarten Karine Harutyunyan. The behavior of 5-year-old Rafayel has changed in the kindergarten. He has become more sociable and friendly. It is the result of speech therapist’s work. “At the beginning Rafayel has problems with psychological development, his speech wasn’t coherent, while making sentences he made grammatical mistakes. Much has changed as a result of work,” says speech therapist Anahit Mayilyan. 
In the next room psychologist works with Armen. He still cannot utter words wholly, but he repeats the first syllables and understands the meaning of the word. Specialists train with the children personally twice a week. It gives results, of course, but it isn’t enough. There is lack of specialists in the kindergartens. There are only 8 kindergartens carrying out preschool inclusive education in Yerevan, and not in all the administrative districts. Yet, one of principles of the inclusive education is that a child can attend an ordinary kindergarten or school close to the settlement. Irrespective of the needs, they all must study together. Number 92 kindergarten is the only one in its type in the republic. For many children and their parents it remains the only available means to receive preschool inclusive education. When ordinary kindergartens don’t have adjusted environment, parents have to take their children to special development centers, where the education, unlike this kindergarten, is paid.
