The citizens' association Vjera & Nada Brčko organized a roundtable today with parents of children with disabilities as part of an initiative to improve the status of people with disabilities in the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The goal of this gathering was to hear the experiences, proposals, and suggestions of parents to further support efforts toward adopting the Law on Professional Rehabilitation, Training, and Employment of Persons with Disabilities.
During the discussion, parents highlighted numerous challenges faced by their children, including:
- Lack of tailored educational programs;
- The unclear status of teaching assistants and parent-caregivers;
- Limited employment opportunities after completing education;
- Inadequate infrastructure that hinders equal participation in society.
A pressing need was emphasized for the swift adoption of a law that would define the rights and obligations related to the employment of persons with disabilities, including quota-based employment in the public sector.
"The law won't solve all problems, but it will provide a basic framework for the equal inclusion of our children in society, helping them to be visible and not forgotten members of the community," one participant stated.
This event once again underscored the importance of collaborating with families of persons with disabilities, whose experiences and perspectives can shape practical and sustainable solutions. All suggestions raised at the roundtable will be incorporated into upcoming activities and presented to decision-makers.
"Today's roundtable was incredibly significant, as we gained new insights into the challenges faced by parents of children with disabilities. Previously, through the creation of video stories to be published soon, we heard many personal experiences that helped us better understand this complex issue. We will continue meetings with both government representatives and business leaders to secure broader support for the adoption of the Law on Professional Rehabilitation, Training, and Employment of Persons with Disabilities," said Vjera & Nada President Nataša Damjanović. She added that she hopes this law will be adopted by mid-year.
The Vjera & Nada Association extends its gratitude to parents for their candid and constructive suggestions and invites citizens to support this initiative by signing an online petition [link available on the association's Facebook page].
