Development of services for persons with disability in Kosovo (emergency-transition-development)

1. Development of services for persons with disability in Kosovo (emergency-transition-development)

2. Vision and Mission of HandiKOS • Inclusive society, with full recognition of the rights and opportunities of PWD in Kosovo • HandiKOS is an NGO that works on: Promotion and Prevention, service Provision as well as Full recognition and participation of PWD in Kosova.

3. General info for HDK Handikos – main DPO in Kosovo, is created in 1983 as APPCHK and renamed as Handikos in 1999 Main Objectives: • Active participation in including the interests of PWD during the process of creating policies for European integration and strengthening self-representation • Ensuring , upgrading and sustaining service provision for PWD • Increasing capacities and economical independence and of PWD

4. Emergency (pre conflict – during conflict and immediately after conflict period) • In the emergency phase - originally responding to the humanitarian needs of persons with disabilities in the pre conflict period; during the conflict years, and immediately after the conflict • Disability movement mainly represented by HDK • Development CBR network through opening of CC and LAG to answer to specific emergent needs of pwd. • Services delivered from this network = combination of service provision (through CC) & disability movement representing the political interest of pwd at local and national level (LAG + HDK HQ)

5. Emergency phase - cont • Services for pwd provided in HDK CC & LAG: • CC: primary physiotherapy; psychosocial activities; distribution of assistive devices • LAG: identification of a new cases; registration; needs assessment; referral to CC & public structures; distribution of assistive devices; establishment of contacts with local authorities • Establishment of a database for pwd (so fare registered some 18000 people)

6. Transition period In the transition period HandiKOS played crucial role to: • empower pwd, DPO’s (evolution of focus groups to new DPOs: down syndrom, parents organization, muscular dystrophy,..) • in advocacy for an inclusive society, based on the motto “Nothing about us without us!". • Policy making • 2001 creation of CDF

7. Development • Unification of disability movement • Creation of National Coalition of dpo`s (2005) • Production of national report on disability (2007) • Creation of local coalitions of dpo`s • Recognition of the role of dpo`s from authorities • Creation of National council on disability composed by representatives of disability movement and governmental structures (2006) • Mainstreaming disability into national and local policies • Development of National Action Plan on Disability (2009-2011) • Creation of Local action plans in disability

8. Development • Participation of representatives of dpo`s in the process of creation of new legislation: • Law on pensions on disability • Law on construction and spatial planning • Law on social and family services • Law on education • Law on vocational trainings and employment • Law on material support for families of children with disabilities • Law an antidiscrimination

9. Challenges • People with disabilities living in difficult situation • The main service providers for remain DPOs • Disability still not perceived as issue of human rights • Difficulties in implementation of the laws • Lack of human, financial resources • Lack of strategies for implementation