Help People with Intellectual Disabilities -Serbia

So far we have used this space to give you, our donors and supporters, a glimpse into the KEC center, tell you about the programs we work so hard to create and implement and to introduce you to some of the people we work with. Supporting our beneficiaries with dynamic programing and working to improve their quality of life is obviously our number one priority. Yet, there is another side of our work that is less emotional but no less important. KEC staff spends a lot of energy “in the weeds,” so to say. No, we are not out there gardening (although some of us are really good at that) rather we are out there lobbying for legislative change, staying on top of legal modifications that affect our beneficiaries and networking with others so that we leverage our power to bring about positive social change. Not splashy but necessary work.

Lobbying and trainings are essential aspects of this work. Back in 2009, KEC had its first serious foray into the lobbying world. We fought a long battle to have the Law on Employment of People with Disabilities recognize our model of work engagement for people with disabilities. Today, because of KEC's lobbying our work engagement model is recognized by the law.This means KEC beneficiaries and other people with disabilities can continue to be engaged in work on the open labor market.

With this small win in hand KEC developed a government accredited program for training professionals to encourage people with disabilities to enter the workplace and how to prepare the workplace for them. KEC has held 20 trainings for over 400 professionals. These trainings gather people from all over Serbia from an array of professional backgrounds including: Psychologist, social workers, special education teachers as well as parents and government officials. During this two-day program they participate in lectures, role playing, dialogues and at the end they receive a government accredited certificate.

Through these trainings KEC has shared its experience in workplace integration in order to get more people with disabilities to work. Our hope is that one day every person with a disability will be able to find a place where they can CONTRIBUTE. Until then we at KEC will keep ourselves busy in the weeds keeping up with new laws and advocating for even better ones.

Marko was born with Down Syndrome to a poor family in Croatia. When the war in the former Yugoslavia broke out Marko’s family needed to flee their home. It was a hard decision because they worried that their young disabled child wasn’t going to make the difficult journey. Realizing that there was no other option Marko, his parents and his brother left Croatia for Serbia. They lived in a refugee camp for 8 years and tried their best to get by. Eventually his father found work and they moved from the refugee camp. Marko was enrolled in a school for people with developmental disabilities. When he turned 18 he could no longer attend school so he spent his days at home. Once at home day after day he became depressed and withdrawn.

In 2010 his mother enrolled him in the KEC day center. When he first came he did not speak much and he never smiled. When the KEC staff started planning that year’s holiday presentation they asked Marko to participate in a group dance. All at once something changed in him. His face lit up as they began moving to the music. He carefully listened to the instructions about the choreography and he quickly became the best in the group, dancing with great confidence and joy in front of all his friends. That dance was the beginning of many small steps that led to major changes in Marko’s life.

With the help of KEC he started working at McDonald’s and then in supermarkets. Now he takes public transportation by himself to and from work, the KEC center and where ever else he and his friends and family are going. Having a job, taking public transportation, singing and dancing in front of crowds are some of the small changes in Marko’s life that KEC helped him with. But, these small changes mean the difference between spending everyday at home alone and living independently as active member of society. Today Marko’s days are full with activity and friends and he is always willing to serenade a visitor with a song.