Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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Physical therapy, training in pneumatic suits, speech therapy and psychology sessions, spatial orientation lessons, hippotherapy, and massage baths. Moscow's rehabilitation centers provide all the necessary conditions to help people with disabilities live full lives. Creative activities play a special role in therapy. On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated on December 3, we discuss these activities with rehabilitation center specialists.
Art therapy and dance as trainers of the child's emotional sphere
Creative arts are included in the programs of the city's rehabilitation institutions. For example, in the rehabilitation center Butovo Even the youngest Muscovites learn to play small xylophones, tambourines, and piano. For older children, there are pottery and sewing workshops, an art studio, and a music lounge.
The center also successfully uses a neurorehabilitation method that allows you to hear the music of your brain. This method is called bioacoustic correction. During an electroencephalogram (EEG), the program converts the received signals into sounds reminiscent of a wind instrument. This stimulates passive areas of the brain, inhibits overactive ones, and restores harmony.
A Boarding School No. 1 for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind has become a permanent venue for the International Festival "On the Wings of Creativity": students participate in vocal, instrumental and theatrical performances.
Trinity Rehabilitation and Educational Center "Sun" Provides assistance to children with mental disabilities and physical illnesses. This school also provides medical, social, psychological, and creative therapy.
"Creative activities are an indispensable rehabilitation tool. They develop speech, communication, and emotional development—all the areas in which children with intellectual disabilities are limited. Children learn to communicate with others, recognize, control, and express their feelings, and safely process negative emotions. A personalized therapy program is developed for each child. At the same time, all specialists—specialists, speech therapists, psychologists, and teachers—are constantly monitoring the child: what else could they excel at? Perhaps they'd enjoy sculpting, drawing, reading poetry, or staging poems?" shared Tatyana Akimova, Deputy Director for Educational Work at the Solnyshko Center.
Art therapy allows children to express their emotions through painting. Children choose colors and materials (pencils, markers, paints, crayons, play dough) that best reflect their state. Dance classes incorporate neurogymnastics, a system of exercises that synchronize the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Everyone, even children with limited mobility, can participate in the performances. Between classes, dance breaks are held, providing a boost of energy and motivation. The center's classical and puppet theaters help children develop their memory and stage speech.
"The first assembly is always exciting for our little ones: lots of people, singing, dancing. By the end of the year, they're already performing at assemblies themselves, and they participate in concerts at the middle school. Even those who don't speak take the stage. For example, there are girls who 'sing' with pictures: they show drawings with a story, adding emotion to them, and gesturing. At graduation, the kids perform a waltz—it's hard to hold back the tears at those moments. Our students often win inclusive creative competitions. Ultimately, they get to show off their talents and be considered stars. The audience's applause means a lot to them," admitted Tatyana Akimova.
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A place where children's talents are revealed
Pupils can also feel like stars Diana Gurtskaya Center for Social IntegrationThis is the flagship of sociocultural rehabilitation in Moscow and throughout Russia. It accepts individuals with special needs aged five to 35. The social integration course lasts three months or a year, depending on the student's aptitude for various creative activities.
"Rehabilitation programs provide an opportunity to express oneself. Therefore, our center's primary mission is to unlock a person's creative potential, help them discover their future calling, and introduce them to the city's opportunities. Before enrolling in the programs, students are auditioned by top specialists: speech therapists, special education teachers, and psychologists. This is how we determine their abilities and interests. Each of our children is a world unto itself, and the main thing is to discover it. If a child sings well, we will certainly invite them to vocal classes, and over time, they will also be able to study choreography and stagecraft, as these disciplines are interrelated. We consider our students' capabilities and are always ready to guide them and encourage them to explore new areas. It often happens that during rehabilitation, not one, but two or three talents are discovered," said Diana Gurtskaya, the center's artistic director and People's Artist of Russia.
The center offers 16 programs for children to try their hand at: art and theater studios, a film school, animation, public speaking, and ceramics, jazz, pop, and folk vocals, and contemporary and pop dance. Young musicians learn to play the piano, guitar, and drums. And the Perfume Academy is a particular source of pride for Diana Gurtskaya.
"For us visually impaired people, smell is an important part of life. At the academy, the center's students can become the creators of their own fragrances. During classes, they experiment, creating candles and diffusers with their favorite scents, and then proudly show their parents the results. The three-month social integration course culminates with a creative concert—on stage, the students showcase their achievements during their training. It's wonderful to see how a child who was previously shy and reserved finally opens up on stage and beams with happiness. This lets us know we're on the right track," the mos.ru interviewee shared.
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Creativity is the path to professional and personal growth
Students mold and fire clay pottery and household items in the pottery workshop, sew clothing, bedding, and toys, and embroider tablecloths and napkins in the textile workshop. In the woodworking workshop, they carve birdhouses, chess sets, and small-plate dishes. In the art workshop, they paint still lifes and landscapes, and decorate wooden and clay objects. Visitors to the center Crafts In Zelenograd, they create souvenirs and study folk crafts such as Gzhel and Kargopol toys. The institution helps people with disabilities and those in need of rehabilitation after injuries and strokes.
"We provide a comprehensive therapy program, but our advantage is that we focus on vocational habilitation and rehabilitation. Besides the fact that creativity allows for self-expression, develops fine motor skills, attention, and discipline, it also helps restore an active social life. Having mastered new skills, graduates can become self-employed and find work. We prepare them for interviews and refer them to centers
My Career And My work“, said Tatyana Shinkareva, director of the institution.
Students hone their skills at a pace that suits them, and upon reaching a high level, they can sign an employment contract with the center.
"Graduates create custom jewelry, repair clothing, customize wedding dresses, and sew medical uniforms. We offer them monetary compensation for this. But they also receive non-material incentives. With us, they continue to interact, receive praise and gratitude, and thus find their place in society," added Tatyana Shinkareva.
IN Moscow City Rehabilitation Center Classes are held in age-specific groups (rehabilitation is available for children aged three and up). These include art therapy, music, theater, and arts and crafts. These activities help people with disabilities overcome psychological barriers.
"Creativity helps overcome loneliness and anxiety and strengthen self-esteem. The most difficult and most important thing for us as teachers is to open up a person. We show them that they can experiment, that they shouldn't be afraid of mistakes or shy away from emotions. We don't judge whether something is right or wrong, beautiful or ugly. We ask, 'What did you feel? Why is this work meaningful to you?' We're not teachers, but guides," noted Vasilisa Nikitenkova, the center's social rehabilitation specialist.
Moscow provides every opportunity for people with disabilities to live full lives, from an accessible environment to creative pursuits, Diana Gurtskaya is confident.
"The capital cares about our studies, work, and self-development. I'm proud of it—it's the most warm-hearted city. You can feel the care and love for people," she concluded.
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