site.btaDisabled Children's Parents Stage Fifth Nationwide Protest

Disabled Children's Parents Stage Fifth Nationwide Protest

Sofia, May 17 (BTA) - Parents of disabled children Wednesday staged a fifth nationwide protest, supported by over 20 organizations from more than ten cities.

The parents demand a new policy towards disabled children and their families. They want a law on personal assistance, which will ensure a worthy life for the children. They point out that this year's budget has accepted differentiated payment according to the percentage of disability, but, again, there is no regulation for those who have become of age. This contradicts the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities ratified by the EU, the protesters said in a letter to the media.

There is also a pressing need of a digital register that will enable tracking of a person's condition when the time comes to appear before specialized medical commissions.

Labour and Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov told journalists at the Council of Ministers that his ministry's team will try to find opportunities to satisfy the demands of the parents.

The extent to which all personal assistance claimed can be funded should be discussed carefully. Currently there are some 26,000 children who receive family benefits under the Family Benefits for Children Act and the sum set aside for this year exceeds 160 million leva, Petkov specified.

The Social Minister also added that new operations in support of disabled people and supportive care for disabled children at day centres will be proposed through the instruments of Operational Programme Human Resources. Other opportunities will also be sought.

On Tuesday the Social Ministry hosted a meeting with representatives of the organizations of people with disabilities who submitted their demands related to medical expertise of working capacity, as well as others. Speaking of the protest today, Petkov said the ministry's team is ready to meet with representatives of their organizations if they express such a desire.

Taking a question, the Social Minister said that work on the digital register of disabled persons is under way.