Formal support for people with disabilities

Osobe s invaliditetom danas se ubrajaju u najbrojniju marginaliziranu skupinu društva. Invaliditet je razvojni proces koji nastaje međudjelovanjem osoba s invaliditetom i prepreka koje proizlaze iz okoline, a koje onemogućuju njihovo ravnopravno sudjelovanje u društvu. Okretanjem od medicinskog pristupa invaliditetu, kada se smatralo da je osoba s invaliditetom problem koji stručnjaci moraju riješiti, prema socijalnom modelu gdje je problem u društvu koje se treba prilagoditi osobama s invaliditetom i učiniti ih punopravnim članovima zajednice, kreće i sustavnije zalaganje za prava osoba s invaliditetom. Njihova prava značajnije se počinju uređivati međunarodnom Konvencijom UN-a. Konvenciju je usvojila i Republika Hrvatska koja od tada međunarodne odredbe nastoji staviti u zakonodavne okvire. Za RH to je proces u kojemu se još uvijek snalazi. Stoga mnoga područja sudjelovanja osoba s invaliditetom u zajednici još uvijek čekaju svoje zakonsko uređenje koje će im omogućiti postizanje punopravne ravnopravnosti. Kroz rad se pokušala pratiti podrška koju država pruža pojedincima s invaliditetom u različitim životnim fazama, od rane razvojne podrške, preko inkluzivnog obrazovanja i visokog školstva do samog zaposlenja i neovisnog življenja. Stručni kadar koji ekipiraju organizacije civilnog društva, u suradnji sa svojim korisnicima, osobama s invaliditetom, najveći su zagovaratelji prava osoba s invaliditetom te u zajedničkoj suradnji potiču državu na reguliranje prava ove manjine.People with disabilities are the biggest marginalized group today. Disability is a developmental process that results from the interaction of people with disabilities and obstacles arising from the environment, which prevent their equal participation in society. Turning from medical approach of disability, where person with disabilities was seen as problem experts have to take care for, to social approach where the main problem is put in society. The society is obliged to make all needed changes in order to make people with disabilities full members of the society. With social approach starts a more systematic advocacy for the rights of people with disabilities. Their rights are beginning to be more significantly regulated by the international UN Convention. The Convention was also adopted by the Republic of Croatia, which since then has been trying to put the international provisions into the legislative framework. For the Republic of Croatia, it is a process in which it is still finding its way. Therefore, many areas of participation of people with disabilities in the community are still waiting for their legal arrangement that will enable them to achieve full equality. Through the work, an attempt was made to monitor the support provided by the state to individuals with disabilities in different life stages, from early development support, through inclusive education and higher education, to employment and independent living. Professional staff equipped by civil society organizations, in cooperation with their users, persons with disabilities, are the biggest advocates of the rights of people with disabilities, and in joint cooperation they encourage the state to regulate the rights of this minority