Mouprise.com

Nearly one in five children in the US has some type of disability. Can we help you?

November is a month of giving, which, of course, comes in many different ways: from writing a check to volunteering your time or simply finding a place in your heart for someone with special needs.

Dr. Rada Sumareva, from New York, decided to do all of the above. More than 12 years ago she brought together a group of like-minded professionals who shared her desire to give, even more recently, to improve the quality of life for special needs patients. “At RADA, Russian American Dental Association, we place an emphasis on the concept of sharing. There are hundreds of organizations designed to provide help to those who need it most, however, there is no real and functional system of referrals between organizations, therefore patients always get fragmented information about what help is available. We’re trying to foster a closer relationship between organizations, not just domestically, but also overseas, sharing experiences, trying to implement in the US what has proven to be a success in Eastern Europe or the Middle East.

Echoing the challenge that Dr Sumareva has expressed, Yekaterina Konovalova, a speech, language and feeding therapist with MS through the Early Intervention Program says, “The only clinic we have referred to so far was a long journey for my patients. By attending RADA’s Special Care for Special Needs Campaign roundtable last week, Yekaterina gained contacts for more clinics, which specialize in providing medical care to children with different forms of disabilities.

Here’s another example of how little we know about programs designed to help: More than half a million New Yorkers pass the Coalition of Concerned Medical Professionals building in Brooklyn every week, and most of us probably don’t know that the organization stands up for the uninsured population. in need of medical care, without ever asking about the patient’s immigration status. “We do whatever it takes, right down to the point of delivering fresh fruits and vegetables, because if we want to address diabetes in Brooklyn and Queens, that’s what it takes,” shares Elizabeth Stevens, president of the Coalition of Concerned Medical Professionals.

Another important concept implemented by RADA focuses on abilities rather than disabilities. It sounds like such a human thing to do, but somehow we get so caught up in dealing with “disabilities” that we forget about the people behind the word. Award-winning jazz pianist Justin Kauflin, whom you may know from the documentary “Keep On Keepin’ On,” was genuinely moved, moved to tears when he first heard from Dr. Sumareva that RADA’s approach is in the skills. Justin began his musical journey at age 4, and by age 6, he was performing in concerts, nursing homes, and weddings, eventually becoming a concertmaster for several orchestras. Sadly, it was during this time that he too lost his vision due to a rare eye disease. However, total blindness did not prevent the 11-year-old boy from further exploring the world of music and developing his career. I guess a good number of jazz lovers are really grateful for his bravery.

“They looked at me, but they only saw my wheelchair,” recalls Vlady Gurari, Esq. It took Vlady 2 years, after receiving his law degree, to find a job. For the first year and a half, he sent out about 20 CVs each day, honestly mentioning his disabilities on the resume. Not a single answering camera. So he decided not to mention his health condition at all, and then he would get dates. However, once potential employers saw his wheelchair, the questions asked during job interviews would be unrelated to his profession and it was obvious that they would not hire him. Now, Vlady works as a Government Relations and Regulatory Advisor. Hivrat Hashmal, Israel and his boss once told him, “When you work, I don’t see your disability.”

The third concept that RADA has been successfully implementing is encouraging students to get involved in charity work. Dr. Sumareva convinced: “It’s really quite simple, if young people don’t get involved today, who would we count on to continue our work in the future? Besides, children are very talented, they have wonderfully creative and brilliant ideas. An example is ours. Special Care for Special Needs promotional video that was compiled by a 15-year-old girl. It’s touching and inspiring.”

Rachel Motsenyar also joined the RADA Special Care for Special Needs Campaign roundtable last week. Rachel is currently a student and spends her breaks between semesters working at Camp HASC to brighten the days of children and adults with special needs. to see if I can be of help in any way. Maybe there are also some collaboration opportunities for our organizations; maybe we could do a fundraiser together too.”

Despite thousands of initiatives, public awareness of the lives and needs of people with limited abilities is still very low. That is, if you know of someone who needs special attention or your family and friends are looking for advice and direction, be sure to refer them to http://www.russiandentists.org Even though RADA does not raise as much money as With, say, the Red Cross, the association could be much more resourceful in certain situations thanks to zero administrative cost and a network of professionals who volunteer. That is, if you want to contribute, volunteer or have an extra space for a needy person in your heart, now you know one more place to go.