The position of children with disabilities in rural areas of Valjevo
This project is an independent assessment of the situation and needs of children with disabilities and children with disabilities in rural areas. The case study prepared by Help Net served as a tool for the competent city services that used the findings to influence the improvement of social protection policies, plan appropriate services and estimate the cost per user.
If you are interested in the entire research in a more detailed way, please contact us via email, which you can find on the website, here we will present suggestions for directions of improvement specified and listed in the form of goals. It is certainly possible to identify more directions for improving the position of children, in accordance with previously conducted research and case studies. Below are just some of the recommendations that are imposed, and local authorities will be able to improve the system according to their capabilities, and in accordance with the situation and needs of children.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
– In relation to the needs of each specific child, it is necessary to provide professional help and support in order to raise the functional capabilities to the highest possible level;
– Provide a family counsellor to all families, so that they are able to improve the position of their child;
– Improving parental competencies to learn to recognize the needs of their children and ways to meet them, through counselling and support groups;
– Improving parental competencies in terms of acquiring knowledge about available rights and ways to exercise them;
– It is necessary to provide adequate and unhindered access to services in the field of health and social protection, by introducing support services at home, regular controls, scheduling;
Provide a minimum of health security for children with disabilities through the provision of health books to their children;
– The general assessment is that support for children with disabilities is not sufficiently available to participate in regular education and develop their skills and talents. This applies both to support within the school, by pedagogical assistants, through support services for the development of children’s skills, such as speech therapists, and to services important for children’s participation in the community, such as the service of a personal companion.
– Prescribe mandatory inclusion of children in the education system (preschool and school);
– Establish cooperation with preschool institutions in order to increase the number of admissions of preschool children from rural areas;
– Adapt textbooks, teaching and working materials to children with disabilities and ensure the availability of these textbooks to children;
– Acquire the necessary assistive technologies;
– It is necessary to sensitize the environment through various types of educational seminars, organization of inclusive activities, greater visibility in the media (through shows and articles);
– Provide available support services that will enable the development of certain potentials in children, the development of motor skills, independent movement and speech
– Provide an appointment at the Dental Service for the admission of children with disabilities and inform parents about the importance of oral and dental health and available services
– It is necessary to provide opportunities for education at home, because the Law also provides for the possibility of organizing classes for students in longer home and hospital treatment, as well as distance learning. These types of classes for children with disabilities are organized on the basis of the request of the parents, i.e. the legal representative. It is necessary to work on information and connecting the education system, social protection and the families themselves.