Eco-Social Strategies for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities: Regional Practices in Russia

Disability is a significant socio-economic issue in contemporary society, requiring focused attention and in-depth analysis. As of January 1, there were 2023, 10,933,000 people with disabilities residing in the Russian Federation. In this context, improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and facilitating their full inclusion into society presents an ongoing challenge for the state social support system. To address this, the eco-social model is increasingly being adopted, with the aim of fostering an inclusive environment and ensuring that people with disabilities have access to their rights—such as education, employment, quality medical and social assistance, and participation in social networks. The eco-social strategies promote the development of interconnected structural changes that aim to mobilize individual resources and help people overcome both internal and external barriers. The approach also involves creating accessible social spaces by adapting public areas and transportation systems to the needs of people with disabilities and enhancing the accessibility of information resources. Medical-social assistance within the eco-social framework aims at comprehensive rehabilitation and habilitation. This encompasses not only medical interventions but also psychological support, social adaptation, and the fostering of self-care skills. The paper investigates regional practices in Russia concerning the application of the eco-social strategies to integrating individuals with disabilities. The main methods were expert interviews and focus groups with clients. In conclusion, while recognizing the eco-social model as an optimal service model, it emphasizes that its effective implementation necessitates substantial structural and institutional transformations. The implementation of eco-social strategies demands substantial human, environmental, financial resources, along with strong administrative support.

Acknowledgments. The research was carried out with support of the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) according to the project № 24-18-00542, implemented at St Petersburg University.