With the wish that it become a place of safety, support, and progress for every child and young person who uses it, the new Day Care Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities in Raška was opened today by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Milan Antonijević, together with the President of the Municipality of Raška, Darko Milićević, and the Minister of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski.

Equality is achieved through concrete services that change people’s everyday lives – such as this Day Care Center. The Municipality of Raška has the largest number of community-based services, and this center is one in a series of innovative services, and as an example of good practice it should serve as encouragement to other local self-governments, Antonijević emphasized.

Day care centers enable socialization and development of users, respite and support for families, greater inclusion in the community and visibility, which the Commissioner’s institution also highlighted in the Special Report on Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities. In this report, we also particularly emphasized the importance of investing in professional staff, because without dedicated professionals there is no quality support. I spoke about this today with children and youth, their parents and guardians, as well as very motivated staff members, Antonijević added.

Persons with disabilities do not seek privileges, but equal opportunities, dignity, inclusion, and quality of life. And dignity is protected through accessible, high-quality, and sustainable services, close to where people live!