[Criteria for granting permission for disabled persons to participate in the Ready for Labor and Defense training program].

Abstract

Rehabilitation, adaptation, and social integration of the disabled are the priority issues of social welfare policy in the Russian Federation. This includes the enhancement of availability ofphysical education and adapted sports programs. One of the best practices for the improvement ofphysical activity among the population is the "Ready for labour and defense" training system (GTO). However, it is not adapted for those with physical challenges and disabilities. To involve this special fraction of the population in physical activity and participation in the GTO system, disability groups eligible for this activity need to be identified. They can include individuals with visual (VI), intellectual (II), hearing (HI), and locomotor problems as well as those with transplanted organs (TO). Also, minimum disability criteria (MDC) for the participants from each group which would make them eligible to practice an adapted GTO system should be defined. The development of MDC for individuals with VI, II, HI, and TO is relatively easy as they are common for most adapted sports. However, it remains a challenge for persons with locomotor problems since they make up a very diverse group bearing in mind that the rules of the International Paralympic Committee envisage different MDC for different adapted sports. There are two possible solutions: (1) to develop specialized MDC for each sport discipline included in the GTO system, (2) to develop universal MDC for all disciplines. The next step in promoting the GTO system among individuals with physical challenges and disabilities will be the development of the para- GTO program that would be unique and adapted for all categories of the disabled individuals.