Spotlight on our members - The 70th Anniversary of the Union of the Blind of Serbia

In the history of the blind and partially sighted of Serbia, July 14, 1946, undoubtedly represents a turning point. On that day, in Zemun, the Union of the Blind of Yugoslavia was set up first, and immediately after that the Union of the Blind of Serbia, which was a part of the unique federal organization. Both organizations were born on the waves of tumultuous changes caused by the socialist revolution and recently ended war. At that time of great enthusiasm, blind and partially sighted persons, as well as others, also believed in positive changes and wanted to give their contribution in creating a better life and society. Above all, they made the efforts to improve their personal and social position in new circumstances, by organized common work. The elite of the blind and partially sighted and of their co-workers and friends, composed in the first place by war-blinded persons and pupils and co-workers of Veljko Ramadanović, cleverly considered that there is much more to be reached by working together and by solidarity than by individual actions, and that an association of the blind guarantees greater protection of interests of this category of citizens than individual organizations and institutions for the blind and partially sighted.

Regardless of all this, we should emphasize here the role and importance of the boarding school for the blind and partially sighted and its director Veljko Ramadanovic in the education, social security and culture of blind and partially sighted persons, and also in other areas between the two world wars, even in creating the basis for the founding of organizations of the blind and partially sighted in Yugoslavia and Serbia. Neither must we neglect the idea of Veljko Ramadanović and Lujo Lovrić way back before the World War II of setting up an association of blind and partially sighted intellectuals and entrepreneurs, although there is no evidence that the idea was ever put into operation.

The war-blinded soldiers Stevo Uzelac and Milan Lazić were elected presidents of the Union of the Blind of Yugoslavia and of the Union of the Blind of Serbia respectively. This fact indicates that they who took part in the recent war and revolution had a big influence and besides, and they were also thought more likely to be able to achieve the proclaimed objectives. According to the rules adopted at that time, which applied for the federal organization, as well as for republic, regional and local organizations, the main objective was the fight for a better life by means of blind and partially sighted persons' own work and by the support of society, and not on the basis of the charity of individuals. In principle, this objective is in the conformity with the present objectives of blindness organizations and disability organizations in general.

In the first years (but also later on), the Union of the Blind had to establish the basic conditions for its existence and successful work, i.e. to discover and enlist blind and partially sighted persons, to develop a network of local organizations, to ensure material needs, to involve volunteers and professionals capable of and ready to work for the welfare of the blind and partially sighted in conditions that were certainly difficult. At the same time, considerable efforts needed to be made for the rehabilitation, general education and professional training of blind and partially sighted persons, for their social security, for their cultural development, access to information, sport and other activities of importance to improve the personal and social position of the blind and partially sighted.

Through such work, the Union exerted more and more influence and acquired a reputation, and accordingly, changes for the better in the work and life of blind and partially sighted persons were made. Thanks to the enthusiastic and systematic work, more and more blind and partially sighted persons were rehabilitated and involved in various forms of general and professional education, in which the school for the blind in Zemun was of particular importance. Blind and partially sighted persons did not only attend primary schools, but also secondary schools and universities. Some of them also acquired important scientific titles. Beside the highly developed special education, blind and partially sighted persons increasingly attended educational institutions together with their non-disabled peers, which was influenced by the development of our education system and of society in general.

Great attention was paid to the employment of blind and partially sighted persons, and important results were achieved in this area as well. In the first years after World War II, blind and partially sighted persons were mostly employed in sheltered enterprises founded by the Union, but the priority was rapidly moved to employment in the open labour market, so blind and partially sighted persons started to be employed prevalently in non-specialized enterprises and institutions, first of all in two professions: as telephone operators and physiotherapists.

The Union developed or founded a number of educational and cultural institutions and significantly improved the condition of blind and partially sighted persons in these areas. It created printing houses and libraries for the blind and partially sighted; Braille and talking books were systematically published and the information in accessible formats became available. The Union also organized various forms of cultural, artistic and entertainment activities. It developed a system of cultural and artistic events and sport and chess competitions. Various forms of creativity of the blind and partially sighted in these areas were encouraged

According to permission granted by the state and other public institutions, the Union directly participated in the awarding of certain rights and subventions, e.g. in local and interurban transport and in the providing of technical aids.

It is not immodest to say that the Union provided great support and material assistance for children, pupils, students, the unemployed, the elderly blind and partially sighted persons, ill and newly blinded persons..., which is continued to this day. It must be especially emphasized that the Union has played, if not an ideal, but an important role in advocating for the authentic interests of the blind and partially sighted. It has always been the representative organization of this category of disabled persons.

This year, the Union celebrates its 70th anniversary with special programmes. Through the solemn academy held in "Sava" centre on October 12, 2016, both the anniversary of the Union and International White Cane Day were celebrated. At this ceremony, representatives of the European Blind Union and delegations from several other European countries were present. In this jubilee year, the Union is going to issue two documents: the Strategic Plan of the Union for the period 2017-2020, and the Strategy for the Improvement of the Position of the Blind and Partially Sighted for the period mentioned. It must also be borne in mind that the preparation of the Strategy for the Improvement of the Position of Persons with Disabilities in Serbia is under way, which will be adopted by Serbian government. In the framework of the preparation of these documents, the Union will continue to emphasize the most important problems of blind and partially sighted persons and that the measures contributing to real improvement of the lives of blind and partially sighted persons be prioritized.

We are also continuing a previously-launched activity - the work on the Law of disability organizations, in cooperation with the Ministry of labour. Representatives of National disability organizations and of the Union of the Blind of Serbia are included in this procedure. This law is expected to contribute to an improved role for disability organizations, and particularly in financing the work of these organizations at national and local levels. It is notable that there are differences between the disability organizations, i.e. between those who are representative and those who are not. Our Union strives for the clearest possible definition of disability organizations and of the representative organizations among them, and of course, for the improvement of the financing of disability organizations at national and local levels. A great majority of local organizations of the Union face serious financial difficulties. The Union itself fares a little better, because it does not depend on project financing by the State. This year, elections in the Union were held at all levels. The election assembly was held on June 14, 2016.

The Law on mobility with a guide dog, adopted last year, has been in application since September 20, 2015, but there is still no guide dog training centre in Serbia, nor State provided financial assistance for the blind and partially sighted for the purchase of guide dogs. Guide dog mobility is not very popular in Serbia, except for rare exceptions. Earlier this year, amendments to the Law on discrimination enabled blind and partially sighted and other disabled persons to use a facsimile signature. This was done in order to alleviate or eliminate the problems blind and partially sighted persons have in juridical procedures. In the same period, a new Law on textbooks was adopted, as well as the other provisions regarding education, which are of particular importance for the blind and partially sighted and other persons with disabilities. These provisions better regulate the position of all persons with disabilities in education, but in practice, blind and partially pupils and students attending both special and mainstream schools face great difficulties, because they lack textbooks in accessible formats, suitable technical aids, teaching materials, and often also professional support for the blind and partially sighted in inclusive education. Recently, the Union received a significant donation from Japanese government consisting of 5 Braille printers and 19 Braille displays. The five printers were installed in the larger university centres of Serbia. This will help the Union to provide better support to blind and partially sighted persons in education. We try to alleviate these problems in other ways as well, up to a certain degree, because of the lack of financial and other means. There are several more laws adopted in different areas, in order for Serbia to harmonize its legislation with that of the EU. Unfortunately, the new legislative solutions are not always implemented, so the Union and other disability organizations often have to demand that the authorities respect existing provisions. Many blind and partially sighted persons find it very difficult to gain employment, particularly as full time workers. This is influenced by the unfavourable economic situation, a high unemployment rate, but also conditions of professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with severe disabilities. In order to improve the employment of physiotherapists, the Union of the Blind of Serbia and its local organization in Belgrade launched massage salons, which work reasonably well. In spite of the serious economic problems, the basic rights and subventions for blind and partially sighted and other persons with disabilities are not threatened. These persons continue to receive financing for third-party assistance, which currently amounts to some 220 euros. They receive this money regardless of whether they are employed, retired or unemployed.

In spite of the Law on Social security, blind and partially sighted persons barely receive the services foreseen by this Law. These include personal assistance for children and adults, household assistance, daily living skills etc. The right to technical aids in the health insurance system is not regulated in the best possible way, but an even bigger problem is that this right is rarely implemented in practice. The market of technical aids for the blind and partially sighted is underdeveloped in Serbia, so aids are rather expensive, and blind and partially sighted persons have difficulties in buying them.

Public spaces and surfaces are increasingly adapted for the independent mobility of the blind and partially sighted, but not as quickly as expected. There are more and more accessible websites, but nevertheless, the majority of them are still not accessible, in part or in full. There are also an increasing number of Braille inscriptions, but still not in full accordance with our needs.

The Union is taking part, independently or within the National disability organization, in writing a comparative report on the implementation of the UNCRPD in our country.

Thanks to the work of the Union over the previous 70 years, blind and partially sighted persons in Serbia have achieved significant progress and are fully capable of taking an active part in the community life.