On May 27, at the Center for Social Support and Rehabilitation of Disabled Children “Rose of the Winds”, a final Roundtable was held on the results of the Pilot Project “Portage”.
The aim of the project was to form a team of specialists working according to the “Portage” method on the basis of this institution. Back in 2019, a number of specialists from the CSPR “Wind Rose No. were trained at our three-day seminar. A team was formed and in the period from November 2019 to May 2021, a team of specialists practiced their skills in conducting classes with children on the processing of vital skills, and also tried to build work following the principles and norms of “Portage”. All this time, the team was accompanied and provided methodological support by Ekaterina Krasnokutskaya – coach Portage, consultant and supervisor, member of the Association of Specialists “Portage” in Russia.
The specialists shared the results of their work with each of their wards. Some of the results and achievements of children shocked even experienced professionals. For example, it turned out to be an interesting technique to use, instead of cards with images of people, photographs of classmates of a girl with a disability. The listeners were very happy about the success of each child. The members of the pilot project team demonstrated the highest quality material and excellent knowledge, ability and skills to follow the principles and norms of Portage.
Representatives of the Portage teams from other centers also took part in the Round Table: the Skolkovskiy Center for Stress Relief and the Formula for Growth. Colleagues shared the results of work in their institutions.
Now, on the territory of Moscow, three teams of specialists have been successfully created and already exist, working according to this method with children with the most severe and multiple developmental disabilities (TMND).
A positive approach to learning, teamwork and interdisciplinary work and other principles allow teaching children with TMHD what previously seemed impossible. For example, a 10-year-old child may lack the skills of an infant and only through participation in a project did he acquire these skills. Another example, at 8 years old, a child does not know how to bite off food. Accordingly, he does not know how to chew and does not eat on his own, receiving food only in a pureed form and through a bottle. So the “Portage” method allows not only to find an approach to each child, but also to really help him master the most elementary, basic skills of cognition, speech and communication, infant, motor skills, self-service and socialization.
Congratulations to our colleagues on the successful completion of the pilot project! And we welcome them in the ranks of practicing specialists and established Portage teams in Russia.
In total, 15 Portage teams operate in our country in 5 regions with the support of Diema’s Dream Fund.