The Association for Assistance to Persons with Autism “Djeca svjetlosti” from Banja Luka, together with its project partner, the Association of Parents of Children with Autism “Duga,” organized a public forum on May 26, 2025, at the Cultural Center in Gradiška, titled “Improving the Status of Children with Developmental Disabilities and Their Parents.”

The objectives of the forum were to present the work of the two associations and to advocate for amendments to regulations that limit the rights of parent-caregivers to the period before the child with developmental disabilities turns 30 years old.

Speakers at the event included Saša Kasagić (President of the “Duga” Association), Miroslav Gajić (Psychologist, “Duga” Association), Nikolina Klepić (MA in Psychology, Deputy Coordinator), and Daniela Višnjić (Legal Advisor).

The public forum was supported by citizens, parent-caregivers, members of the “Duga” Association, representatives of the Red Cross, CKUD “Lepa Radić,” the Association of the Deaf in Gradiška, and a city council member.

Conclusions from the public forum:

In order to raise awareness about the challenges faced by parent-caregivers, it is necessary to support the upcoming online petition that the partner associations will launch in the near future.
A large number of people with developmental disabilities who received a disability rating of less than 100% from the commission (thus losing the right to be assigned a parent-caregiver) still require continuous care and attention in practice.
“We especially want to highlight that parents of children with developmental difficulties can obtain free legal assistance from the ‘Djeca svjetlosti’ Association in the process of applying for parent-caregiver status. In this regard, we invite them to reach out to us so that we can jointly initiate the procedures to secure this right, especially in cases where they were previously granted the right but lost it due to the child’s schooling,” emphasized the Djeca svjetlosti Association from Banja Luka.