The mother of a two-year-old girl has been told that her child cannot start school due to her disability.
Parents of Sofya Zakharova were informed that their daughter’s deformed skull would frighten other children — recommending she get surgery to alter her appearance.
The nursery strongly urged the little girl should have the operation prior to her parents applying again.
But the operation has been delayed as experts warn that the girl’s development will be slowed down if she does not get the chance to interact with other children socially.
Educational psychologist Ekaterina Belan told local media in regards to the case:
“The sooner she gets the experience of interactions, the easier it will be for her to cope with the conditions in which she lives and grows. The more interactions she gets, the easier it will be for her to accept herself for who she is.”
The child was rejected for a spot in the nursery school in a village in southern Russia.
Svetlana Gizatullina, the girl’s mother, was allegedly informed by the school that since her daughter has a deformed skull as well as fingers and toes that are fused together, it may scare the other children.
They insisted she would need to have surgery before they would change their minds.
Both Svetlana and her husband Rasul Gizatullina – live with their parents and currently have no water or gas to cook and wash with.
The ‘Rainbow of Goodness’ charity took the case on but, the school has yet to change their stance, and were quoted telling Svetlana:
“First, you need to arrange an operation to she can go to nursery school like an ordinary child.”
Currently, prosecutors are investigating who made the choice as well as why doctors have yet to perform the necessary operation.
The head of state said that government officials have visited the family hoping to find them an apartment so they do not spend the winter in a freezing house.
He said:
“I understand that if it were not for the intervention of the charitable foundation, there would have been no meetings on this and no relocation. It’s already clear that the rights of the child and parents are violated, and there will now be an appropriate legal assessment.”
In addition, he also vowed to ensure that her case is followed to improve her living conditions.