BRAMA, December 6, 2002, 9:00 am ET
Press Release
DVOU Joins with Ukrainian Cradle Adoption Agency to Raise Awareness of Neglected Special Needs Orphans in Ukraine
Unnecessary Dysfunctions Develop In Addition To Personal Disabilities
Philadelphia, PA USA (Dec 4, 2002) — Disabled & Vulnerable Orphans of Ukraine (DVOU) and Ukrainian Cradle Adoption Agency (UCAA) announced today their partnership to build awareness of disparaging orphanage conditions that special needs orphans face in Ukraine.
Sonia Kondrat, Director of UCAA, adopted two sons from Ukraine in 1998 and witnessed the great need to assist Ukrainian orphanages. "Although the orphanage staff did the best that they could with their limited resources, many needs of children with medical and developmental challenges were often not addressed nor met", stated Kondrat.
With the lack of incoming state funds, orphanage administrators and medical personnel find it increasingly difficult to support disabled and vulnerable orphans. Through understaffing, ignorance or disinterest, institutionalized children have very little contact with adults who can provide the stimulation they need for healthy development. Special needs orphans are often left lying in their beds alone for long periods of time, causing a myriad of physical, intellectual and emotional disturbances. "Ultimately, they develop a combination of dysfunctions such as aggressive or passive behaviors, sensory disorders, attachment problems, learning disabilities or consequential invalidity, on top of their own special disability", commented Lillian Horodysky-Prinko, DVOU Executive Director. "This is why we need to join forces and form one voice to build awareness of the plight of Ukrainian disabled & vulnerable orphans".
"It is the selfless mandate of such organizations as DVOU that come into existence because of this, raising the standard of life for these children", said Kondrat. "Every child deserves a family, and if that is not possible, then they deserve a life of hope. We stand behind the efforts of DVOU as proud sponsors, supporting their quest in assisting these Ukrainian children".
Ukrainian Cradle Adoption Agency is a licensed international adoption agency, committed to uniting children and parents to build loving and stable families. UCAA is a non-profit corporation that assists Canadian parents in all aspects of their adoption process in Ukraine. UCAA can be found online at www3.sympatico.ca/soniak/ucaa.html or reached at 416.622.7677.
DVOU is a non-profit organization aimed at identifying and resolving critical issues and emerging areas of need in the lives of special needs orphans suffering from HIV/AIDS, Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, tuberculosis and other diseases. Services offered include humanitarian aid, health care, advocacy, education and training. For more information visit www.dvou.org or call 215.725.1003.
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