Through the project "Improving the position of children with developmental disabilities and their parents", which was carried out by the Association for Helping Persons with Autism "Children of Light" from Banja Luka, with the support of the PRAGG project, an initiative was launched to abolish the age limit of 30 years, which denied caregiving parents support after their child reaches that age.

Months of advocacy, public forums, legal support for parents, and dialogue with institutions resulted in an important systemic change. At a special session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, amendments to the Law on Social Protection of the Republic of Srpska were adopted, which introduced a new right - an allowance and the right to a special allowance for the care of a child with developmental disabilities, intended for parents after the child reaches 30 years of age.

We remind you that the campaign started in 2025 with a series of advocacy meetings and public forums. Through these events, caring parents, experts, civil society organizations, and representatives of local communities pointed out the long-standing problem faced by families of children with developmental disabilities.

A particularly strong contribution to the campaign was made by the parents themselves, who showed through their personal experiences how unfair it is that support ends when their children's needs remain the same or become even greater.

"I am the parent of a 40-year-old child, and I have no right to compensation. I would like to see the person who passed the law; did he assess that our children should not live past the age of 30? As the child gets older, it becomes more difficult; instead of helping us more, they retaliate against us!" said Ika Stevanović, mother of a child with developmental disabilities, at a public forum in Bijeljina.

During the campaign, it was especially emphasized that the needs of people with developmental disabilities do not disappear after passing a certain age limit, and that families must not be left without support due to administrative restrictions. As the "Children of Light" Association emphasized, "Our mission is to provide a dignified life for people with developmental disabilities and 100% disability even after they reach the age of 30, because their needs do not end with adulthood. On the contrary, they become even more pronounced then."

By adopting the amendments to the Law, a significant step was taken towards a fairer system of social protection and improvement of the position of families who take care of people with developmental disabilities daily. This result shows that the joint action of citizens, civil society organizations, and families can lead to concrete changes in public policies and solutions that correspond to the real needs of people.