During recent visits to the departments of San Martín and Ayacucho, progress was made in both the educational and community spheres. The inauguration of an Equine Therapy School in San Francisco marks a milestone in the region.
Equine therapy is a practice that helps a lot in matters of disability.
The town of San Francisco del Monte de Oro witnessed a significant event with the inauguration of the ‘Pampero Ecuestre’ School. At the event, which was attended by the Secretary for Disability, Luis Giraudo, and the Mayor, Sandro Flores, enthusiasm for equine therapy was evident. Staff from the San Francisco school, supported by the Secretariat, traveled to Villa Mercedes to receive training and advice on the model to follow, with the aim of replicating the successful program in their own center.
‘Pampero Ecuestre’ will offer classes in Creole horse riding, show jumping and reining tests, thus expanding its services and opportunities for the community. It will be a new inclusive space for people with disabilities in the San Francisco Valley.
At School No. 162 ‘Domingo Sarmiento’, the head of the Disability Secretariat promoted inclusion and accessibility by touring the institution accompanied by the director, Silvina Nievas. The establishment has 150 students enrolled, 13 of whom have disabilities and have CUD, but they have noticed that another 15, most of whom have autism, do not have the certificate.
Giraudo made himself available to the Secretary to speed up the process, highlighting the importance of having it. The education is comprehensive, oriented towards inclusion and they have a special education teacher, Natalia Contreras.
In the town of Luján, together with the mayor, Oscar López, they visited school No. 52 ‘Submarino Ara San Luis’ and held a meeting with the directors Silvina Bustos and Hugo Lucero. This institution was born thanks to the merger of two schools that were founded in the mid-nineteenth century ‘the graduate school for boys and the graduate school for girls’.
There are 181 students enrolled, 13 with a certificate and 15 with individual pedagogical project (PPI) follow-ups. The institution has a special education teacher, Ramona Leal. The main concern revolves around the need for therapeutic companions or support staff.
Freddy Mirabile, mayor of San Martín, received Giraudo to discuss relevant issues related to accessibility and inclusion. During the visit, recent improvements in infrastructure were highlighted, such as the ramps installed in the main square and other public spaces, which represent an important step towards greater accessibility for all citizens.
However, a significant concern also emerged: San Martín is currently the department in the province with the highest number of people with disabilities, although exact figures are not available. To address this issue, Giraudo undertook to conduct, with the help of his team, a comprehensive survey to obtain accurate data on the number of people with disabilities and the types of disabilities present in the region.
