Association of the Forum of Disabled of Slovenia

by Rafael Zupanèiè

...continued

Index

1 Introduction

2 Review of Projects of Individual Projects

2.1 Scientific-theoretic Section

2.2 Health-rehabilitation Section

2.3 Educational and Training Section

2.4 Socio-economic section

2.5 Section for accessibility of environment and communication

2.6 Section for law and legislation

2.7 Section for informing

2.8 Section Culture and Art

2.9 Section for adopted sport-rehabilitation activities

3 Execution of Projects

2.3 Educational and Training Section

Education and training section will endeavour that the state will take care of the adequate possibilities for training of children with special needs and adult disabled on all levels of training in the integrated environments. This section will, in cooperation with the science theoretically, also care for training of disabled in terms of their social awareness. Its important task will also be to care for supplementing the knowledge of the relatives of the disabled about the medical and legal aspects.

2.3.1 Including the themes involving the disabled problems into the lectures at the high and secondary schools
Coordinators: mag. Luj Éprohar
Marjan Klemenèiè

People at the level of secondary school and students get to know almost nothing about the disabled issues Thus, we feel that it would be essential to include these issues into the curricula where it would not be in contradiction with the existing curricula (for instance, presentation of a certain theme with the subjects by choice and seminars). Of course, we count on the sympathy and understanding of the lecturers of these subjects in the secondary schools and at certain subjects at the higher and high schools of sociological faculties as well as on the management of schools. It would be particularly important to introduce the social model of disabled, enforced by the experiences of disabled people themselves.

Members from the Forum for Disabled of Slovenia, either disabled or other experts, could participate at the presentations of specific themes from the disabled areas. Let us mention that the President of the Forum of Disabled of Slovenia, mag. Luj [prohar, is the collaborator of the Faculty for Social Sciences and lecturer at different secondary schools and seminars. Director of the successful company SKIPPER d.o.o., Marjan Klemen~i~, also a member of the Forum for Disabled of Slovenia, was asked by the Faculty for Social Sciences to prepare presentation about the possibilities of work of companies for disabled. We wish to strengthen such activities in the future.

2.3.2 Shedding light on the concept of empowerment disabled
Coordinators: Marjan Klemenèiè
Jelka Ékerjanec, social worker graduate
Doc. Dr. Darja Zavirûek

The project of enpowerment is dedicated to the disabled who wish to acquire knowledge and get to know the possibilities how to carry out their individual needs and rights and how to influence the society in order to become more aware of the responsibility towards the disabled population. The project will be carried out in a form of a School which will be organised by thematic modules in the cycles lasting a few days. The participants will attend the lectures by the well known foreign and domestic experts. Concrete issues will be discussed at different round tables and workshops. The participation of foreign experts will be assisted by the international institutions and in cooperation with the disabled orgnaisations with international character.

Our aim is to attract the participants from all over Slovenia so that all regions would be equally represented. That way we would make possible a real breakthrough of new user disabled movement as the participants would be in a role of the holders and initiators of new ideas.

2.3.3 Problems of disabled students
Coordinators: Ivanka Kotnik
Aleû Rus, ing.
Miha Lipovûek, dipl. ing.
Prof. Dr. Arsen Éurlan

The end of 20th century is in the mark of information revolution and unlimited development of science and technology. In the next millennium the knowledge will be even more important and will change the existing production ways with new technologies. We are faced with such a trend already now in Slovenia, and much more in the developed countries in Europe and around the world. For carrying out the industrial production processes, particularly in the tertiary activities, the physical power, hand skillfulness and flawless perception are becoming less and less important and the main role is getting education, that means knowledge.

New technological solutions, supported by the electronics, are offering a new specter of vocational possibilities, especially with the use of computers and modern communication. Here are opening up new areas for heavily mobility-affected disabled (affected use of hands), for blind and hard of hearing, as it is already possible to transform speech into writing and vice versa. As a precondition it will be necessary to improve the possibilities for education. Our proposals, which will be in the light of learning plans in the specialised learning- educational institutions, will be communicated to the Curricular Council of the Institute for Education and Training. We shall cooperate with institutes, which are educating mobility-most-affected disabled, blind, hard of hearing and mentally disturbed.

The suggested solutions will also be available to the experts which are involved in professional rehabilitation in the rehabilitation institutions and with qualification of disabled.

2.4 Socio-economic section
Coordinators: Marjan Klemenèiè
mag. Janez Drobniè

Employment of disabled in Slovenia is introduced in two different ways. Disabled are employed in the companies for disabled, as well as by other economic and social legal entities, tradesmen, civil legal entities, etc. The specific laws and regulations, which in Slovenia regulate education and employment of the disabled is based on the Law on Professional Education and Employment of the Disabled (1976). The most important issue which has to be followed by the policy in this area of welfare of the disabled is the need to educate and qualify the disabled, so that they can carry out their human rights indicated in the Convention of the United Nations, No. 122, according to which every human being has the right to work and to choose the sort of work freely, to impartial and satisfactory work conditions and to unemployment welfare.

Setting up and management of companies for the disabled has legal basis in the Law on Economic Societies (Article 569) where the basic terms and conditions are specified in order to acquire the status of the company for disabled. The basic activity of companies for the disabled is employment of disabled (the ratio must be at least 40% disabled employees as opposed to the other employees). Above all there must be the type of disabled who, because of the nature of their disability, cannot get employment in the ordinary company. The companies for disabled have to be equally represented at the chosen markets in harmony with the legislations governing the market economies where they are quite often, because of their specific personnel structure, in a worse situation from the competition. To this end, the State of Slovenia is recognising specific economic relieves, which these companies devote to a more successful technological development, and often also to relieve their financial losses due to the minor work productivity of the disabled employees. Important expert and material aid to the Slovenian companies for the disabled are also "Measures of Active Employment Policy", carried out by the Employment Institute of Slovenia. There are approx. 100 companies for disabled in operation in Slovenia right now, which acquired their status from the Government of Slovenia, employing over 3.000 disabled.

In March 1996, there were approx. 34.000 disabled, which are registered at the market of labour, some 7.570 unemployed (22.3% the rate of unemployment). We feel that employment of disabled in the companies for disabled represents an important offer at the labour market for more intensive employment and self-employment of same, however, the disabled, their relatives and Slovenian expert public are not informed enough about the aim and the ways of work of these companies for disabled, which we shall carry out in cooperation with company for disabled SKIPPER d.o.o., which is registered among others to train the disabled. We shall organise the seminars:

• at the high and secondary schools, where there are education programmes which are important for the realisation of the policy for welfare of the disabled of Slovenia;
• at newly established companies for disabled;
• at other Slovenian companies (the reasons: keeping informed the employers with the legislations and specifics of employment of disabled and acquiring new market possibilities for companies for disabled);
• at the social welfare institutions, where disabled population leaves;
• for organization of groups of disabled, their relatives and expert groups in the area of welfare for disabled.

The following topics will be dealt with at the seminars:

• presentation of legislations and the basic conditions for establishment and functioning of companies for disabled;
• presentation of "Measures of Active Employment Policy" for the disabled and companies for the disabled;
• presentation of the basic economic relieves for better quality of management of companies for disabled;
• specifics of organisation of working process in the companies for disabled, with the emphasis for introduction of specific and modern technology;
• review of active market activities of Slovenian companies for the disabled, with the aim to seek new market niches.

In the framework of execution of individual seminars we shall prepare brochures for all the participants, which will comprise the content of the seminar.

2.4.2 Establishment of Company for Disabled for Training and Employment of the Disabled
Coordinators: Marjan Klemenèiè
Nataûa Chvatal

The company for the disabled is established in harmony with the Article 569 of the Law on Economic Societies. It will be involved in the following activities:

• preparation of the disabled for establishment of companies for disabled and self-employment
• mediation of disabled cadres to the needs of the market
• market services in connection with market attractive short- and mid-term projects of sections of Forum of the Disabled of Slovenia
• expert assistance to the companies for disabled

2.4.3 The Enforcement of the Model "Planning of Independent Life in the System of Direct Financing"
Coordinators: Marjan Klemenèiè
Joìca Étrumbelj

a) The model of the unit for independent life in the Homes of Elderly People with the greater autonomy of the disabled

b) The possibility of support for better quality of life within the existing institutions (with the emphasis on carrying out the rights and laws obligational proportion)

2.5 Section for Accessibility of Environment and Communication

This Section will endeavour for such an organisation of the physical environment, that access to all important social areas will be more easily accessible to all people disabled. Also, it will try to influence that the state will adopt and take steps, which will enable access to information and communication to all the disabled.

2.5.1 Preparation of the Guide about Accessibility of Public Places in the Larger Slovenian Cities
Coordinators Milojka Jerûin
Niko Èiõek, dipl.ing.
Anton Klemenèiè

The architecture settlement of Slovenian cities and towns and traffic infrastructure is far from being in such a state that would allow the disabled easy access to the public places and communications. This is particularly felt by the disabled with reduced mobility ability, by the blind and hard of hearing. In the first phase we shall point out the problems in all its complexity by preparing a guide indicating the places with easy access, first of all for smaller towns and then for other areas too. The guide will be in a form of a book or brochure and accessible on the INTERNET. Also, it will be recorded on audio cassettes, and if needed also on video cassettes.

In the second phase we shall suggest the list of places, which have to be easily accessible to all the disabled and the list of places which are in desperate need of repair. At the same time we shall try to achieve appropriate architechtonic solutions with new projects before the final version of the plan is adopted and with adaptation of public transportation (trains, buses, taxis) for the needs of the disabled. We shall try to do our best to change the suitable regulations and their consistent implementation. If necessary, we shall organise round tables and public displays of issues in question.

2.5.2 Modern Information Services and Communication for Blind and Hard of Hearing in our Environment
Coordinators: mag. Luj Éprohar
Ivica Kotnik
Zvonko Lipièar
Prof. Dr. Arsen Éurlan

The technical aids for communication and mediation of information have achieved in the last period a great level of development (see Project No. 2.3.4), so that they enable the blind and hard of hearing relatively good exchange of information with the environment. The purchase of the above is usually a great burden for an individual. Computers with Braille line and audiotactil for the blind and telephones, telefaxes and light indicators for the hard of hearing are among the essential technical aids for the blind and hard of hearing. These aids are to be within the easy reach to all the blind and hard of hearing. according to the classification of the World Health Organisation (WHO). This would be possible to achieve with the assistance of the insurance companies, which would enable at least partial payment. And before that it would be necessary to place these aids among the orthopaedic aids. As the technological development in this field is very fast, it is extremely important, that with the assistance of the experts in this field we follow new achievements and give opinions about their usability. It will mean a great turnaround for the blind, in the area of the use of computer technology the verbal/ speech communication with the computer, which is already being introduced in practice with innovation of Prof. Dr. Arsen [urlan.

The equipment of the urbane centers with adequate devices is a very important aspect in the evaluation of the development of communication for blind and hard of hearing. Here we have in mind the traffic lights and phone booses in the larger cities, the presence of translator for the sign language for hard of hearing in public places (hospitals and welfare centers, court houses, banks ...) and equipment of public places with induction loops. The conditions in this field are not satisfactory.

Concrete activities in this project will comprise:

• seminars and round tables with participation of appropriate politicians, experts and representatives of institutions
• publications activities, including the publication of brochures with the aim to inform the disabled and public at large.

2.5.3 Organisation of an International Conference on Modern Technical Aids for Disabled
Coordinators Nataûa Chvatal
Rafael Zupanèiè
Vesna Jarc, defectologist graduate
mag. Darko Menart

The aim of the International Conference on Modern Technical Aids for the Disabled is to introduce the latest situation in this area in Europe and in the whole world. The conference will be dedicated to the disabled, to the domestic producers of equipment, rehabilitation institutes and school institutions which are involved in education and training of the disabled, as well as to the institutions involved in the policy to organise the orthopaedic aids (ZZZS). The content emphasis will be on the modern technology, supported with development of communication. This is the are which has achieved in the recent period a great development and which has and will have always have greater meaning and importance as a means for inclusion of the disabled in the working process and society as such.

The project is of a mid-term character. Itt will have to be carried out in cooperation with the appropriate international organisations. We shall also count on the support of the governmental and other institutions, we shall cooperate also with appropriate faculties, domestic producers of technical aids for the disabled and the Society for Technical Culture of Slovenia.

2.6 Section for law and legislation

The state is obliged to ensure the legal basis for adoption of appropriate measures which enable the disabled equal possibilities of cooperation in the society.

The present legislation of the disabled is in our opinion to a greater extent not clear, often in conflict with the Constitution and international universal acts of this field. There is a legal confusion and great break into small fragments of laws and legislations relating to the disabled, which enables unsanctioned discrimination of some sorts of disabled and even violation of human rights. This section will endeavour on a short- and long-term basis to rise the level of the legislation in this field. Its main purpose is to influence the adoption of such laws and legislations relating to the disabled which will be in harmony with the international definition of disabled (Convention MOD No. 159, Geneva, 1983) which will respect the Standards rules and regulations of the United Nations to equalise the possibilities for the disabled and will be in agreement with the universal documents in this field and the Constitution of Slovenia. We shall try to exceed the above mentioned point of views if the concept of attorney, which is advocated by the modern social-user movement of the disabled.

2.6.1 Legally-legislative Issues of the Welfare for the Disabled
Coordinators: Marjan Gruûovnik, dipl. ing.
Ivanka Kotnik
Tomaõ Wraber

Section for legislative and legal matters will:

• evident problems and give initiatives to change legal regulations of open question in specific areas of problematic for disabled
• prepare suggestions and give opinions to the individual solutions of specific problems in the legislations relating to the disabled
• cooperate with the Bureau for the Disabled

We shall make efforts that the issues of the disabled get adequate attention in:

• reform of regulations in the field of working law and supplementary activities (education and training, fee choice of profession and occupational counseling, qualifying, employment, work, inclusion of disabled into society, etc.)
• reform and/ or preparation of complex welfare of disabled and social security
• reform of activities and financing of organisations for the disabled
• reform the system of pensions and disability insurance
• renovation of the law on obligation ratios

We plan to:

• participate actively in modeling the national programme of welfare of disabled with proposals and suggestions
• make efforts towards adoption of the internal law on disabled

2.6.2 Cases of violation of human and civil rights of the disabled
Coordinators: Marjan Gruûovnik, dipl. iur.
Ivanka Kotnik
Rafael Zupanèiè, ing.
Bogomir Boõiè

Collection of data and documents convenient for the individual and general discriminations and violation of human rights of the disabled will shed light on the problems of the disabled. We shall introduce the legal analysis of cases to the Guardian of the Human Rights of Slovenia, to the Bureau for disabled at the Government of Slovenia and to the public at large. We shall cooperate with international organisations (Amnesty International). We feel that these findings will often strengthen our activities in the field of legally-legislative issues.

Concrete activities in this project will comprise the following:

• detecting, collecting and evidenting individual and group cases
• round tables with participation of suitable legal experts and representatives of institutions
• publication activities, including publishing brochures with the aim to inform the disabled and public at large

2.7 Section for Informing Section for informing will try to prepare a complex data base on the disabled in Slovenia, which will serve to give data on statistical demographic data about the disabled and information about their living conditions. The complete statistical picture is essential so that we shall be able to present the State of Slovenia objectively the effects of the existing policy in this field and suggest the changes in the terms of active social policy. The financial portion of the welfare of the disabled is not to have the supporting character, but it should be an investment, which would have mid-term and particularly long-term economic effects, and at the same time it is to satisfy all human rights.

2.7.1 Preparation of development elaborate and initiative to introduce complete information system about the issues of welfare for the disabled in Slovenia
Coordinators: Company for disabled, SKIPPER d.o.o. Ljubljana
Prof. Dr. Arsen Éurlan
mag. Darko Menart
Niko Èiõek, dipl.ing.

Ministry for Science and Technology of Slovenia

The precondition for development of welfare of disabled in Slovenia is a sure and inner harmonious information system, which will help us estimate the conditions in this field. Now there are only sub-systems of statistical data which are gathered by the individual carriers of welfare for disabled for their own needs.

The information system will be a modern system and will be based on the relational data base which will enable the analysis of living conditions of disabled compared to the rest of the population and an objective evaluation of effectiveness of the existing programmes and services in the field of welfare for disabled. Of course, the rights of individuals for confidiality will have to be observed carefully and respected while gathering these data.

We shall develop a modern terminology and criteria to evaluate the competent statistical quantities in order to give the statistical surveys and other analyses. The terminology will try to replace the expressions which come from the term "invalid" with less pejorative terms.

Different governmental and non-governmental bureaus and other organisations are collecting the statistical data for their own needs. Thus, it will be necessary to cooperate closely with: the Ministry for Labour, Family and Social Welfare, the Ministry for Education and Sport, Council for Disabled at the Government of Slovenia, Bureau for Disabled at the Government of Slovenia, Institute for Pensions, Institute for Insurance of Slovenia, Institute for Employment and organisations for Disabled.

We shall cooperate with domestic and international research organisations in order to carry out the project. The project is very complex, thus it was given a mid-term character.

2.8 Section Culture and Art

This section will try to involve the disabled into its cultural activities. It will make sure that the disabled will have access to all sorts of cultural events.

2.8.1 Organisation of Cultural and Artistic Events
Coordinator: Brigita Lipovûek
Milojka Jerûin

These events will enable the disabled artists to exhibit their activities to the expert public and public at large. They will be intended for the literary creators (writers, poets), fine arts, music, theater and film artists. We shall invite to these events the journalists, art critics, well known artists and, if necessary, other experts with the aim that they would shed light at the round tables to the current themes from this field, such as:

• cultural model of disabled
• cultural-artistic activities among disabled - therapy or an art
• status of disabled artists
• special forms of financial aid to the disabled artists
• informing the public with cultural and artistic activities of the disabled
• accessibility of public cultural places especially for:
  disabled on wheels
  blind - the libraries must have adequate communication aids for them
  hard of hearing - the premises must have the induction snares

2.9 Section for adopted sport-rehabilitation activities

It will include the areas of sport education, sport recreation, top-level sports, kinezitherapies, rehabilitation and therapeutic recreation.

The work will be primarily aimed at:

• lectures for recognition and foundation of adopted sport and recreational activities in the broader social area
• awakening of participants and carriers of adopted sport-recreational activities
• organizing and execution of adopted sport-recreational activities, particularly for heavily disabled where the emphasis will be especially on not yet well known sport and recreational activities (for instance, volleyball on wheelchairs, preparation of "trim" paths for disabled on wheelchairs)
• securing undisturbed access to all sport areas also for wheelchairs
• elimination of swimming illiteracy among the disabled, particularly among children
• solving problems of top-level sportsmen and women among the disabled (the status of top-level sportsman/ women disabled, organizing paraolympic committee in mid-term period)
• carrying out of donation events for the needs of financing of adopted sport-recreational activities and other humanitarian aims (concerts, tombola, sport events and similar)

In the year 1998 we aim to carry out two projects:

2.9.1 Adopted swimming literacy for people with special needs
Coordinators: Dr. Rajko Vute
Sreèko Obolnar
Goraz Jakûe
Marjan Klemenèiè

2.9.2 Volleyball on wheels, as a new sport and recreational possibility for wheelchairs
Coordinators: Dr. Rajko Vute
Rafael Zupanèiè, ing.
Gorad Jakûe
Marjan Klemenèiè

3 Execution of Projects

The indicated projects are of such a nature, that they will require active cooperation of all members and Association, we shall also try to attract for association people with political influence, sociologists, medical and technical experts as well as influential cultural artists. It will be essential to acquire relevant technical and organisational aid to carry out the execution of all projects, also on the international level. We plan a widely based cooperation with international organisations, particularly with PHARE at the European Union. We expect the financial support from the governmental and non-governmental institutions and from donating companies. The basic financial source will have to be assured by the newly founded Foundation for financing of organisations for disabled. Periodical reports will be sent on request to all those who will be supporting financing also by way of donations and carrying out of concrete projects.

We are sure that good results will follow the interceded and professional attitude of all project carriers involved.

And last, but not least, let us surrender to the truth that is reality and recognise which are our real goals - the principles or the human beings. Slovenia is the only country in the world which has LOVE woven into its name. There is no need to know why. But there is a real need to live up to this name. It is up to us, not to any body else. Let us WAKE UP finally.