#About us

We are a non-governmental organization registered in 2008 whose goal is to create opportunities for people who have a spinal cord injury or are similar to the consequences of the disease and move with a wheelchair in order to fully integrate them into society.
The goal is achieved through active rehabilitation camps and other activities that contribute to the acquisition of independent living skills, awareness of their condition and prevention of complications that may arise as a result of violations. An important component of the activity is the transfer of knowledge according to the method of “peer-to-peer”, when people with experience of their own lives with similar disorders and methodological knowledge about such conditions pass this knowledge to people who are at the beginning of this path.
Practice areas:
- Creation of a database of persons with spinal cord injury;
- Holding active rehabilitation camps for people with spinal injury;
- Realization of the “First Contact” program in medical and rehabilitation institutions;
- Conducting seminars for active rehabilitation trainers to improve their skills to work within active rehabilitation camps;
- Conducting seminars for active rehabilitation trainers who work on the “First Contact” program with persons just after spinal cord injury;
- Seminars for employees of medical institutions that work with patients with spinal injuries;
- Cooperation with organizations working towards active rehabilitation from Sweden, Poland, Belarus, Lithuania;
- Release thematic literature, manuals, training videos, etc.
#ACTIVE REHABILITATION CAMPS
The purpose of the camp is the achievement of the persons in wheelchairs their maximum independence from outside help and thus improves the quality of their lives. The philosophy of the camp is based on the slogan: “If you’ve leant how to live in a wheelchair yourself – teach another to do this also”. The main role in the learning process play instructors in wheelchairs who have great psycho-emotional influence on the camp’s participants, as are compelling examples of the real possibility to live a full life at the same level as the other people do.
Methods of active rehabilitation camps had been received from the Swedish NGO Rekryteringsgruppen.
Active rehabilitation camp’s program includes:
- Learning how to use the wheelchair of the active type;
- Improving the physical condition and skills of self-service through training sessions for various sports the motor activity (technique of using the wheelchair, general physical training, swimming, archery, table tennis, aerobics, etc.);
- Dissemination of information relating to prevention of complications after the spinal cord injury, personal hygiene, intimate sphere, legal issues, adaptation of the house, etc.
In Ukraine, active rehabilitation camps started in 1991 and are held exclusively by GAR. From 2002 active rehabilitation camps are supported by Ukrainian Center “Invasport” and individual philanthropists.
Now GAR organizes camps:
- For persons just after the spinal cord injury and for those persons who use the wheelchair but have insufficient physical and theoretical skills for independent living;
- for those who already passed the first camp to improve skills acquired during their first camp;
- for people with injuries in the cervical spine;
- for active rehabilitation trainers to improve their skills.
GAR plans to organize camps for children with lesions of the musculoskeletal system, for women with injuries of the spine and spinal cord, sports camps for people who want to lead a more active lifestyle.
#THE “FIRST CONTACT” PROGRAM
The objective of the «First Contact» program is the finding of the persons after the injury and providing them with comprehensive information support, encourage to exercise and an active lifestyle.
Instructors of the “First contact” program are, in most cases, people who have had the same injury of the spine and spinal cord and are an example of opportunities for people who live in a wheelchair, can skillfully use their wheelchairs, are independent in life, have theoretical and practical knowledge of the problems and needs of people after the spinal cord injury.
The “First contact” instructors can give the following information:
- How to avoid pressure sores and contractures;
- How to choose the wheelchair of the active type and where to get it;
- Can tell about different kinds of personal hygiene products and how to choose the right one;
- What organizations work with people after spinal injury;
- How to fill individual rehabilitation program;
- What is the active rehabilitation camp and how to take part in it;
- What is a sanatorium treatment;
- How to adapt the apartment to the needs of person in a wheelchair;
- Where is rehabilitation centers for spinal patients in Ukraine;
- How to work with public authorities
The “First contact” instructors work closely with families, informing them about the opportunities and needs of persons after the injury or disease of the spinal cord.
#SEMINARS FOR THE HOSPITAL STAFF
The purpose of these events is to show needs and abilities of a person with the spinal cord injury during the post-hospital period.
Philosophy of these seminars is based on the possibility for its participants to look at the problem of people with a spinal cord injury on the other hand. That means to feel in the situation of a person who moves in a wheelchair, to see more restrictions, which they did not notice before and did not pay any attention to.
The course is designed including the experience of countries such as Sweden, Poland, United Kingdom and United States of America.
The seminar’s program provides practical and theoretical sessions:
- History of the active rehabilitation’s movement;
- Technique of the belaying and moving the person in the wheelchair;
- Technique of the using the wheelchair of the active type;
- the selection of the wheelchair;
- prevention of pressure sores, contractures and urological problems;
- sex and procreation;
- Attendance and participation in training sessions of the active rehabilitation camps.