More than half of respondents say that the Russian attitudes towards persons with disabilities have improved; every fifth considers that the government pays enough attention to the problem.
MOSCOW, December 4, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey devoted to International Day of Disabled Persons.
Russians’ attitudes towards persons with disabilities* keep improving. More than half of respondents (54%) mark positive changes over the recent 5 to 10 years; this share has doubled compared to 2010 (26%). Those who point to improvements are basically female respondents (59%) and young Russians aged 18-24 (59%).
The basic challenges persons with disabilities are facing today, according to Russians, are moving around the city (36%), difficulties entering and leaving the building (30%; a 3-point increase compared to 2018), lack of necessary medication (26%), low disability benefits (26%), and problems getting a job (24%).
The Russian government pays enough attention to the disabled persons, according to every fifth Russian (20%). One-quarter of respondents believe that the efforts are not sufficient (26%); nearly half of respondents (47%) say that this problem lacks attention from the state.
*Persons who have physical, mental or intellectual impairments: the visually-impaired, deaf, persons with speech disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, etc., including disabled children.
Russian VCIOM-Sputnik public opinion survey was conducted on November 30, 2019. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers is used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
1991 | 2010 | 2018 | 2019 | |
Improved | 20 | 26 | 52 | 54 |
Deteriorated | 31 | 19 | 7 | 8 |
Remained the same | 31 | 45 | 35 | 32 |
Don’t know | 18 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
Total respondents | Men | Women | |
Improved | 54 | 47 | 59 |
Deteriorated | 8 | 11 | 6 |
Remained the same | 32 | 36 | 29 |
Don’t know | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and older | |
Improved | 54 | 59 | 50 | 52 | 55 | 54 |
Deteriorated | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 6 |
Remained the same | 32 | 28 | 36 | 34 | 30 | 31 |
Don’t know | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 9 |
2018 | 2019 | |
Difficulties moving around the city (poorly planned sidewalks, lack of entrance ramps, etc.) | 36 | 36 |
Difficulties entering and leaving the building (no elevator, ramps, narrow doorways, etc.) | 27 | 30 |
Lack of necessary medication | 25 | 26 |
Low disability benefits | 27 | 26 |
Employment problems | 25 | 24 |
Lack of medical equipment at medical facilities for the treatment of the disabled | 21 | 19 |
Unavailable modern rehabilitation equipment (prosthetic devices, wheelchairs, etc.) | 18 | 18 |
Hostile and tactless attitudes of people around | 12 | 14 |
Difficulty getting government benefits | 13 | 12 |
Unavailable sanatorium-resort vouchers | 10 | 9 |
Problems in getting education | 7 | 7 |
Limited scope of leisure activities | 7 | 7 |
All the above-mentioned (from the “other”) | -- | 2 |
Other | 4 | 4 |
Don’t know | 8 | 10 |
2018 | 2019 | |
Too much attention | 1 | 0 |
Enough attention | 20 | 20 |
Not enough attention | 48 | 47 |
Too little attention | 23 | 26 |
Don’t know | 8 | 7 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.