Protest in front of the Serbian Parliament: Expo ate up the law on children with developmental disabilities

The minimum wage and seniority are the only things parents of seriously ill children have been asking the state for 13 years. Since 2012, they have been fighting for the adoption of a legal solution according to which parents of children with the most severe diagnoses would have the right to minimum monthly income. However, at the last session of the Assembly of Serbia, 141 deputies out of 177 present abstained and thus prevented the proposal of the law at all.

In this way, the progressives did not want to appear inhumane, so they voted against, but by not voting, they once again threw out the demand for the survival of people who have to take care of their children for the rest of their lives.

"It is clear to us that there is no money for our needs," Stefana Milosavljević from the informal group of parents of children with autism told Vreme. "And of course they are not there when the budget money went to construction." Expa i national stadium. We are very angry about this selection. That is why we will organize a protest on October 13, probably in front of the Serbian Parliament. I just hope we don't have any problems because of the tent out front.''

The law has been dragged on since 2012, when the first petitions were collected. Parents who struggle to get some financial help are not asking for a salary for themselves, but to be able to support their children for whom the system has no other solution.

Why do parents ask for a salary?

Existing health care is completely devastated. Thus, parents of children with speech and language problems have to pay an average of 500 euros per month for a private speech therapist, defectologist and psychologist because the state does not have enough employed specialists. Supplements, vitamins, additional stimulation therapy should be added to the list of expenses, so the expenses exceed 1.000 euros per month. about which "Vreme" already wrote.

Parents of children suffering from rare diseases were pleasantly surprised when the state announced a competition for help last year. And then there was the sobering up. Those affected told "Vreme" about the administrative hardships they were put in front of and the incomplete help that does not solve their problems.

Some of them, instead of more than 200.000 dinars for various assistance, received only a tenth of this amount. "Time" was written.

Started from the local

However, some cities have agreed to help parents who are in the most trouble on their own initiative.

This summer, the city of Bor was the first in Serbia to adopt the Decision on the status of "Parent Caregiver", which will allow parents of children with developmental disabilities to receive financial compensation based on the law that parent caregivers have been seeking for 12 years. A similar decision was adopted by Sremska Mitrovica, so parents will be entitled to pension insurance in addition to a monthly allowance equal to the minimum wage in Serbia.

"It is very important for parents to have a pension, because they are getting older, they are losing strength and energy, so the question is who will take care of the children when they are gone. We already know that there are no adequate homes in Serbia to house these children," adds Stefana Milosavljević.

Civilizational minimum: What was the proposal

The bill was presented in the assembly by Tatjana Pešić from the Freedom and Justice Party, and the solution has the support of the majority of the opposition that participates in the work of the parliament.

"Our proposal is that a parent who is committed to the care of a child with developmental disabilities, who is completely dependent on help and care, should have the right to compensation in the amount of the minimum wage for the new RS, contributions, work experience and the possibility to exercise the right to a pension," said Pešić, presenting the proposed regulation.

In many cases, these parents, most often mothers, have to leave their jobs because the child requires complete and constant care and attention. Thus, they lose their source of income, pension insurance and the right to a secure future.

"These parents are not like all other parents. Their day has no breaks, their care has no working hours, there is no rest for them. They are at the same time parents, therapists, caregivers and fighters for the life and dignity of their children, and the state, unfortunately, still does not recognize them with a status that would provide them with social and economic security. Parents who take care of children with developmental disabilities are not asking for charity or privileges. They are only asking for the state to protect them and provide them with a dignified life. This is the civilized minimum and it's not a privilege at all," said Pešić, among other things.

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