DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION AS A PRECONDITION FOR INTEGRATION IN THE SOCIAL COMMUNITY FOR CHILDREN WITH HARD MENTAL RETARDATION

Abstract

Her master thesis is presented on 168 pages, with an introduction, a theoretical part, a research part, an analysis and an interpretation of the results, conclusions with proposed measures, and literature. The results of the research are presented with 30 tables and 27 graphs.        
In the introduction she tries to prove that the place of every child is to live and develop in the family, and not in institutions and that the deinstitutionalization as a process has given the anticipated results.           
In the theoretical part she discusses five groups of issues.
The first part is related to  mental  retardation,  defini tion, classification and characteristics of children with hard mental retardation.
The subject of the second part are children with combined developmental disabilities.
The subject of the third part are issues related to the presentation of the development of institutionalized care of children with mental retardation in the Republic of Macedonia till 2000.

In the fourth part the presented issues indicate that the deinstitutionalization is a new quality of living for children with hard mental retardation. In this part international and Macedonian experiences of the deinstitutionalization process are presented.
In the fifth part of the theoretical basis, the candidate indicates on the need for integration of children with hard mental retardation in the social community, children’s reunion with their biological families or their accommodation in foster families, and at the same time accepting them in the day care centers.
The research part defines the subject, aims, tasks, hypotheses, variables, approaches and instruments. The analysis of the pattern is given, explaining that the group of examinees stayed for a longer period at the Special Institute in Demir Kapija, and now they have been reunited with their biological or foster families. Giving a comparative analysis of the children’s abilities in the period before their acceptance in the project, during the project and during the period of their reunion with the biological or foster families, the candidate proves that the best results were achieved during the second period when the children got professional special education and rehabilitation treatment. However, the positive results are evident in the third period as well, when the children were reunited in the families and had parallel visits to the day care centers. She states with pleasure that the centers for social work accept and apply the care for the children with hard mental retardation. The foster families show interest and care for the children they accept, have a positive relationship and are interested in accepting another child.
The families object to certain centers for social work that they do not show appropriate interests for the children and that they should be more interested in these children.
The data of this research show that the organized treatment for children with hard mental retardation leads to development of these children.

These results can be enhanced if a systematic, multi-modeled, comprehensive, and intensive program adapted to any child according to his/her possibilities and abilities is applied in the upbringing and educational process.
Proposed measures are:

• Early detection, diagnosis, treatment;
• To follow up of each child’s development, with assessment of his/her abilities after every six months, and consequently to prepare a proposed programme for the coming period;
• To apply new working techniques: behavioral treatment, relationship therapy, reeducation of psychomotor, game therapy, stimulation of the sensitive-sensory-kinetic areas;
• Socialization of children in the close environment: walks, visits to sport and cultural events, and communication with other people;
• To engage professional staff of different profiles and their continuous education;
• To enhance the engagements of the centers for social work;
• To stimulate the biological families to make attempts for keeping the children in the family environment;
• To open day care centers.