From September 4 to 18, another rehabilitation camp “Life after the war” for veterans who lost their sight took place on the basis of the Western rehabilitation and sports center of NKSIU, already the third this year. In the middle of the magical Carpathian landscapes, seven indomitable defenders of Ukraine began their journey back to an active, maximally independent life. Another two underwent rehabilitation again to consolidate previously acquired skills.
A team of experienced trainers, from the “Contemporary view” foundation most of whom have significant visual impairments, selflessly taught the boys to navigate in space, restore social interaction skills and household independence, master the phone and computer with the help of screen access programs, Braille, etc. In order to restore motor activity, the rehabilitation program included daily morning exercise, massage, Nordic walking, football, classes in the gym and recovery and rehabilitation halls.
Members of their families received psychological support, theoretical knowledge and practical skills regarding the rules of accompanying the blind, household services and legal advice.
This time, a veteran who, along with vision loss, has an upper and lower limb amputation, underwent rehabilitation for the first time. This was a serious challenge for the coaching staff, because there is no experience and methods of working with such cases in Ukraine. However, 27-year-old Andriy from Ivano-Frankivsk, with his perseverance and crazy motivation, proved to everyone around him that lack of experience is no reason to back down from your goal. By the way, the doctors continue to fight to restore Andrey’s sight and we are sincerely rooting for it to happen as soon as possible.
After the end of the rehabilitation camp, the work with the project participants will continue. Trips of a multidisciplinary team of trainers to the veterans’ residences are already planned. This is necessary to help them apply the acquired skills in everyday life and improve them every day.