Rights of children with developmental difficulties

Najranjivija društvena skupina su neosporno djeca s teškoćama u razvoju. Njihova ranjivost pospješena je ne samo zbog njihove dobi, već i uslijed specifičnih fizičkih, psihičkih ili psihofizičkih stanja i oštećenja koja pojačavaju taj ranjivi status. Dok pravni okviri Republike Hrvatske, uključujući Ustav, Zakon o socijalnoj skrbi, Konvenciju o pravima djeteta te Konvenciju o pravima osoba s invaliditetom, nužno osiguravaju prava ovoj skupini, ostaje upadljiva neusklađenost između zajamčene pravne zaštite i stvarnog ostvarivanja tih prava. Međutim, izazovi koji obilježavaju život djece s teškoćama u razvoju nisu samo ograničeni na njihov pravni status. Ova djeca suočavaju se s dubokim i složenim izazovima u različitim aspektima života. Ovisno o prirodi njihove teškoće, mogu se suočavati s preprekama u obrazovanju, socijalnoj interakciji, zdravstvenoj skrbi i profesionalnom osamostaljivanju. Djeca s teškoćama u razvoju često se susreće s predrasudama, stigmatizacijom i nedovoljnom podrškom, što dodatno komplicira njihovu svakodnevicu. Stoga se javlja potreba za sveobuhvatnom reformom sustava i društvenog okruženja kako bi se osigurala adekvatna podrška i inkluzija za djecu s teškoćama u razvoju. Ovaj rad objašnjava pojam djece s teškoćama u razvoju, navodi podjelu oštećenja i objašnjava ih, govori o promjenama u obiteljskim odnosima djece s teškoćama u razvoju i izazovima pred kojima se nalaze, predstavlja prava djece s teškoćama u razvoju, objašnjava njihov položaj u odgojno-obrazovnom sustavu te sustavu socijalne skrbi, ulogu socijalnog radnika u radu s djecom s teškoćama u razvoju i njihovim obiteljima i izazove pred kojima se socijalni radnici nalaze u radu s njima.Undoubtedly, the most vulnerable social group is children with developmental difficulties. Their vulnerability is exacerbated not only due to their inevitable age, but also as a result of specific physical, psychological, or psychophysical conditions and impairments that intensify this vulnerable status. While the legal frameworks of the Republic of Croatia, including the Constitution, the Social Welfare Act, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, necessarily ensure rights for this group, a noticeable discrepancy remains between the declared legal protection and the actual realization of these rights. However, the challenges surrounding the lives of children with developmental difficulties are not solely confined to their legal status. They confront deep and intricate challenges across various aspects of life. Depending on the nature of their difficulty, they may encounter obstacles in education, social interaction, healthcare, and professional autonomy. Children with developmental difficulties often face prejudice, stigmatization, and insufficient support, further complicating their daily existence. Hence, there arises a need for a comprehensive reform of the system and societal environment to ensure adequate support and inclusion for children with developmental difficulties. This paper elucidates the concept of children with developmental difficulties, delineates the categorization of impairments and expounds upon them, discusses shifts in familial dynamics involving these children and the challenges they confront, outlines the rights of children with developmental difficulties, explains their position within the educational system and social welfare framework, highlights the role of social workers in working with these children and their families, and delineates the challenges social workers face in their engagement