The Russian Federation ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Individuals with Disabilities on the 3rd of March, 2012. (The RF had signed the accord in 2008.) This means that thousands of people now have the opportunity not only to learn about their own rights but to enjoy the “right of choice” in making their own decisions regarding employment; education; medical, social, corrective, and developmental services; and, very importantly, where they will reside. In reality, up to now, social services did not offer people with special needs very many options in their way of life.