News from Bulgaria

January 2001(pdf format)

October 2000

• Preliminary work-preparation for the FIRST THENAPA FORUM, 17 – 20 February 2000, Leuven, Belgium: meetings at the Departments of Physical Education, Sports and Physiotherapy of the National Sports Academy (NSA) - Sofia and The Bulgarian Federation Sport for Disabled (BFSD), concerning integration in schools, recreational and high sport. Shaping up the preliminary report on the situation in Bulgaria, presented in Leuven.
• Participation in the FIRST THENAPA FORUM, 17 – 20 February 2000, Leuven, Belgium.
• Review of materials from Leuven. Preparation of the report papers for the Bulgarian participation in Leuven. Meetings and talks related to the foundation of a National THENAPA Committee: at the Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Welfare, NSA– Sofia, Sofia University, BFSD, non-governmental organisations etc. Search of data, regarding the Questionnaire and the "ideal profile" of APA professionals. E-mail contacts with THENAPA partners. Search of Internet data. Participation in an APA seminar in Thessaloniki, Greece. Preparatory work on co-operation between NSA - Sofia, KUL and Thessaloniki University in the field of APA education. Work on the introductory course in APA at the NSA – Sofia. Continuing e-mail contacts with the THENAPA Secretary Veerle Wouters and Coordinator Prof. Dr. Herman Van Coppenolle.
• Participation in the SECOND THENAPA FORUM, 10 – 14 May 2000, Oslo, Norway.
• Follow up meetings and talks concerning National THENAPA Committee. Meeting on the problems with the integration of disabled through APA in Bulgaria with the Rector of NSA – Sofia, who agreed to chair the Committee. Meeting on the subject with the Executive Committee of the Bulgarian Association of Kinesitherapists and Rehabilitators. Discussion on materials and results from Oslo with different representatives of the interested parties. Contacts with THENAPA partners. Contact with the Czech Republic representative related to the participation of a teacher and student from NSA – Sofia in CEEPUS Conference on APA, 25 – 27 September 2000, C.Budejovice, Czech Republic. Revision of the Questionnaire (regarding Bulgarian data) after the work done in Oslo. Continuation of the work on introduction of APA education in Bulgaria (basic and post-basic level) – NSA - Sofia in collaboration with KUL and Thessaloniki University, regarding joining EMDAPA as well. Contact with the Higher Institute of Physical Education of Lombardy, Milano, concerning joining the DEUAPA. Preparation of Bulgarian THENAPA report and papers, related to participation in Oslo. Permanent e-mail contacts with the THENAPA Secretary Veerle Wouters and Coordinator Prof. Dr. Herman Van Coppenolle. Continuation of the search for Internet data on APA. No possibility for sponsors at present (there is no legislation, facilitating sponsorship activities in Bulgaria yet).

Ludmila Venova
Assoc.Prof., PhD, PT, Dean,
Faculty of Kinesitherapy, NSA