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Description
Children with developmental disabilities and their families are often on the margins. The Republic of Croatia neglects efforts to ensure an equal start for every child, especially for children with developmental disabilities. Support varies regionally, and is almost completely absent in deprived areas. All of them have in common the lack of early intervention, recognition of problems and support regarding the availability of kindergartens, assistants and communication mediators. Integration and inclusion in preschool institutions is an important step, which is also guaranteed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Many scientific studies show that children involved in programs achieve significantly better results in further education. Deviations in development are often neglected to be addressed in the early and preschool age and children lose timely support. Early intervention remains only at the declarative level. Each child develops potential in a certain sequence. If we don''t act on time, we miss the moment when help would give maximum results and do irreparable damage.
The project will encourage legal changes: prescribing the obligation to ensure equal starting positions for every child, including children with developmental disabilities, especially in deprived areas. The Rulebook on assistants and communication mediators in kindergartens, which will prescribe the obligation of their employment will be prepared for the Ministry of Science and Education.
We also work on training educators for the rights of children with developmental disabilities, make support available to the wider professional community. Whether the child will be included in the system and receive support depends on the efforts of the parents, and that is a question that must be resolved by the state.
The project will have a dual task - a strong advocacy role and a role of supporting the needs of children with developmental disabilities, their families and kindergarten employees.