Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Presidium of the Moscow Government reviewed the report Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development, on the social integration of people with disabilities. Following the discussion of the issue Sergei Sobyanin instructed to continue implementing current projects in this area.
Moscow is home to over 950,000 people with disabilities, approximately 60,000 of whom are children. Comprehensive support and improving the quality of life for residents with disabilities remain among the top priorities of the capital's social policy. Today, the focus is not simply on adaptation, but on the full integration of these individuals into all aspects of city life. Muscovites with disabilities receive education, undergo comprehensive rehabilitation, find employment, start families, engage in sports and creative activities, and participate in inclusive capital projects.
Educational Opportunities
The Moscow Government places great emphasis on providing high-quality and accessible inclusive education. Currently, over 80,000 children with disabilities are enrolled in the city's kindergartens, schools, and colleges.
To create conditions that take into account the unique needs of each student, a team of specialists, including psychologists, speech therapists, and special education teachers, conducts a comprehensive assessment. Previously, only in-person assessments were possible, but starting this year, students can take the assessment online, from the comfort of their homes. Since March 2025, more than 30,000 students have completed the assessment.
In addition, the capital has 16 specialized schools for children with special needs. Students are taught by experienced teachers, speech therapists, special education teachers, and psychologists who apply an individualized approach to each child, helping them learn and develop.
In the system Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the City of Moscow They create all the necessary conditions to ensure that children with disabilities receive a quality education and undergo comprehensive rehabilitation without interrupting their studies. There are eight rehabilitation and educational centers in Moscow, educating over two thousand schoolchildren with special needs.
Each center's work is organized around the specific needs of the children. For example, Boarding School No. 1 houses the All-Russian Center for Gifted and Blind Children, which educates talented children from across the country.
Moscow specialists have created a unique educational model: innovative approaches and high-tech equipment are used in both rehabilitation and education. Classrooms are equipped with specialized furniture and technology, and individualized educational programs are tailored to the needs of each student. The centers employ highly qualified specialists: teachers, doctors, psychologists, and speech therapists. VR technology, artificial intelligence, and other innovative solutions are used in the training.
Assistance in obtaining a profession and finding employment
The Moscow government also provides assistance to people with disabilities in mastering new professions, improving their skills, and finding employment. Over 60 free educational programs have been developed for them, with an emphasis on customized training tailored to the needs of specific employers.
The city employment service holds "I Want to Work" job seeker meetings and implements projects such as "Available Work," "Top 500 Resumes," "Your Path to a Career," "Confident Step," and others.
The Abilympics movement is developing at the Professional training center. It helps people with disabilities become experts in their chosen professions. At professional skills competitions, participants demonstrate their skills, expand their network, gain new knowledge, and meet potential employers.
For many, participation in the movement offers a real chance for a successful career and self-fulfillment. For example, in 2024, thanks to the Abilympics championship, 659 Muscovites with disabilities found jobs (30 percent more than in 2023). The most in-demand employment sectors were manufacturing, information technology, trade, services, and education.
In 2025, 7,400 organizations provided quota-based jobs for people with disabilities—almost 40 percent more than last year. Currently, over 41,000 people with disabilities work in such positions in Moscow, a 20 percent increase from last year.
Rehabilitation: A personalized care route
Every year, over 200,000 Muscovites receive services under individual rehabilitation or habilitation programs. Of these, 20 percent undergo comprehensive rehabilitation courses in city centers (including 3,000 people who use mobile home rehabilitation services). Eighty percent receive services through public organizations, which receive city subsidies, as well as through government contracts, where services are available both within Moscow and beyond.
To provide high-tech assistance, 10 Moscow rehabilitation centers use robotic assistive technologies, biofeedback simulators, VR technology, and other technologies.
Mobile rehabilitation, where specialists make home visits, has also become an important element of the support system for Muscovites with disabilities. It ensures equal access to high-quality rehabilitation, regardless of a person's health status and level of mobility.
Such services are provided by the Moscow City Rehabilitation Center, the Krasnaya Pakhra Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled, the L.I. Shvetsova Scientific and Practical Center for Medical and Social Rehabilitation, and other institutions. In 2025, over 3,300 mobile rehabilitation courses were conducted in various districts of the city.
Furthermore, sociocultural adaptation programs are successfully developing. They aim to unlock the creative potential of people with disabilities. For example, the Diana Gurtskaya Social Integration Center trains over 270 people with disabilities daily, and over 3,500 participate annually in various city projects. It offers 16 adapted creative programs in a variety of areas, from vocals and recitation to dance and original genres. The center's students participate in the Abilympics professional skills championship, perform on stage with Russian pop stars, and also stage plays and musicals.
For 10 years, the "Remesla" rehabilitation center for the disabled has been providing comprehensive rehabilitation services through creative activities for people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities participate in workshops in printing, woodworking, pottery, textiles, and design, as well as art studios. Today, over 70 people work there. Residents with disabilities fulfill real orders, and their products—from souvenirs to home decor—find buyers. Thus, rehabilitation through creativity becomes a professional activity with a stable income, proving that disabilities are not a barrier to mastery and economic independence.
Meanwhile, the Zelenograd Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled, which utilizes physical education and sports methods, emphasizes activities that involve physical activity. Specialists work with both children and adults. Among those undergoing rehabilitation are many participants and winners of adaptive sports competitions.
Interaction with non-profit organizations
For the past seven years, the Moscow Government has been implementing the "Moscow – Kind City" program to support socially oriented non-profit organizations (NPOs). It includes a range of grant, property, educational, and informational support projects.
Every year, the capital allocates 400 million rubles to support non-profit organizations through the "Moscow – Kind City" grant competition. Over the seven years of the grant competition, the city has supported 738 NGO projects, allocating 2.8 billion rubles.
Every third non-profit organization that receives grants implements a program to support people with disabilities.
Property support allows non-profit organizations to increase accessibility to services for Muscovites. They use some of their premises to operate inclusive workshops, while others are adapted to provide services to various categories of residents. Currently, there are 90 inclusive workshops operating in the capital, employing approximately 750 people with disabilities.
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