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.
In your opinion, has the attitudes of Russians towards the disabled persons generally improved/deteriorated or remained unchanged over the recent 5 to 10 years? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||
| 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 |
In your opinion, has the attitudes of Russians towards the disabled persons generally improved/deteriorated or remained unchanged over the recent 5 to 10 years? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| Total respondents | Men | Women |
Improved | 54 | 47 | 59 |
Deteriorated | 8 | 11 | 6 |
Remained the same | 32 | 36 | 29 |
Don’t know | 6 | 6 | 6 |
In your opinion, has the attitudes of Russians towards the disabled persons generally improved/deteriorated or remained unchanged over the recent 5 to 10 years? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| 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 |
Let us talk about persons with disabilities (person who have physical, mental or intellectual impairments, such as the visually-impaired, deaf, persons with speech disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, etc., including disabled children). In your opinion, what problems are they currently facing in Russia? (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | ||
| 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 |
In your opinion, does the government pay enough attention to the problems of the disabled persons in Russia today? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 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.