Russia's views on disabilities

To exist but not be seen could summarize russia's view on persons with disabilities. This is of course a result of a long tradition on how they have viewd persons with disabilities. Russia did have similar views as the rest of europe during the 19th century. But after the introduction of marxism, an image of an ideal society started to grow where no persons with disabilities could exist.

Tsarist Russia 1721-1917

Peter I tried to diverge from the charity model and the tsarist state started to take a more active role.

He introduced a certification where someone who had a mental disorder (дураки) was exempted from state service. But they were also denied their rights to marry and limited their property rights.

Peter's attempts to exclude the church were unsuccessful. The tsarist russia used a type of charity model where the ortodox church and the elite of society took care of persons with disabilities in a tradition of patronage and philanthropy known as metsenatstvo (меценатство).

1922. The Soviet Union

After the founding of the Soviet Union, private and religious philanthropy were forbidden. The new policy of the care of persons with disabilities was a two pronged one. The state where to take care of persons with disabilities, but the state where also to uphold the image of a perfect society. The Soviet Union adopted an disability model called the Functional model.

This is course due to the fact that the Soviet union adopted Stalinism where everyone where to work together for a common cause. But in the same time. One have to remember that one of the reason that the Bolshevik Revolution where successful, where due to the fact that the russian people had for many years fought for disability insurance and social security.

A disability classification system was introduced in 1937. This system is still used in Russia and Ukraine. Person with disabilities were classified into three groups

• III Partially disabled but can work part-time or casual work.
• II. Perceived to need constant nursing care but may be able work in special conditions.
• I. Needs constant care and deemed unfit for work.

This view on disabilities can be seen in their official stats of persons with disabilities. 9% percent of the population are disabled and 28 % of the population has limited mobility. Compared to the western world where there generly are a 15% population of persons with disabilites.

Internaty

The soviet union created a system residens institutions calle doma-internaty where persons with disabilities could liv but not be seen. The institution system was to be a home- like setting that could provide necessary rehabilitation and medical care.

There was an intense pressure on parents to place their children in internaty. On paper they had the right to take care of them in the home but in reality, there were no available resources to assist parents.

The fall of the Soviet Union

Ukraine declared independence from the soviet union 1991. Views on disabilities were quite similar in the tsarist russia and the rest of europe. But after the fall of the Soviet Union it was obvious how different Europe's and Russias views had become.

"There Are No Invalids in the USSR!"

Reply from a soviet representative on the question if the Soviet union would participate in the 1980 paralympics.

The soviet union had created a view where persons with disabilities were deemed unuseful if they could not work. And that they should stay at home and be grateful for what the state gave them.

2012

In 2012 Russia finally ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities- three years after Ukraine. After this the Russian law of accessibility has been implemented more often. But, they still hold the Soviet view on disabilities, that you're deemed an unuseful member of society that should be grateful for what you're given. It's not until now accessibility guidelines are implemented on a more national level.

What does this has to do with Ukraine?

One of Putin's reasons for the war on Ukraine is that he doesn't want Ukraine to be part of Europe and the cultural views we have.

After the Euromaidan revolution, Ukraine did hit a turning point and started to adopt a social view on disabilities. If Ukraine is forced again to be part of Russia, their progress towards disability rights will be to nothing.

References

Institute of modern russia. Accessible environment for Russians with disabilities. Boris Bruk 2013. Accessed 22-03-06. https://imrussia.org/en/nation/580-accessible-environments-for-russians-with-disabilities#:~:text=When%20it%20comes%20to%20accessibility,most%20comprehensive%20law%20in%20accessibility

Sarah D. Philips. "There Are No Invalids in the USSR!": A Missing Soviet Chapter in the New Disability History. Indiana university. 2009. https://dsq-sds.org/article/view/936/1111

Gosudarstvennaja programma- Dostupnaja sreda na 2011-2015 godi. Ministerstvo truda i socialni federachii. www.programs.gov.ru