Assistance and support of a national sports organisation to Ukrainian war refugee

Abstract

The research aimed to find out the possibilities and scope of help and support of the national sports organization Special Olympics Slovakia to Ukrainian families of war refugees who have children with disabilities. It was qualitative research. The main research method was a semi-structured interview, which was attended by a 47- year-old female participant, the national director of the Special Olympics Slovakia. We found out that the national sports organization Special Olympics Slovakia provided help and support to families – of war refugees by establishing a day center for children with disabilities and their family members, where children are provided with educational activities, participation in leisure activities as well as regular participation in sports activities. This aid was supported exclusively by foreign grant projects. Since the outbreak of the military conflict, they have already helped more than 65 families of Ukrainian refugees with children with disabilities, and currently, 10 children with autism spectrum disorders are using the help of the national sports organization through the daycare center. Thanks to the daily care in the day center, the level of social and self-care skills that children with disabilities develop every day in the day center has significantly increased. The vision of the national sports organization for the future is the transformation of the daycare center into a school facility.