EDEC would like to purchase an adapted minivan to transport children with disabilities to one of our daycare centers. The daycare center provides special needs children with a personal development plan and consultations with psychologists, doctors and occupational therapists. This minivan will provide safe and efficient transportation for children, some of whom are in wheelchairs. Currently, a car is being used to pick up children throughout the region and can take 5-6 trips each day.
Families living in rural areas of Georgia have limited access to public transportation services. In addition, available buses, largely from the Soviet period, are not safe or adapted for people in wheelchairs. In order to provide our services, the organization currently pays for the private transportation of children with disabilities. The cost of this service is very expensive and does not provide the safest method of transportation, as the private cars are also not adapted for wheelchairs.
The purchase of an adapted minivan will decrease the cost and the time of transportation by 40%, while ensuring the safety of beneficiaries. This cost savings will provide budget relief allowing EDEC to make improvements to other areas of our services; including improving the quality of food at all three day care centers and increasing the number of needs-based art therapy courses offered.
As a result of purchasing this adapted minivan, EDEC will be able to provide safe and efficient transportation for the children we serve. It enables us to provide them with access to consultations with psychologists, doctors and occupational therapists. In addition, the savings on transportation will allow us to allocate more money towards supporting improved meals and more needs-based art therapy courses, which help the children to better integrate into society.
