site.btaChance Through Skills Association Calls for Amendments to Legislation Regarding Special-Needs Children

Chance Through Skills Association called for amendments to the Child Protection Act to introduce more effective measures to prevent the abandonment of children with special needs. During a discussion held in Sofia on Monday, the Association urged for the mandatory inclusion of specialists to advise and inform parents from the maternity ward about the possibilities for their child's development.

Around 90% of abandoned children in Bulgaria have special needs, with many of them not attending kindergarten or school, the Chance Through Skills Association pointed out. Many of the disabled youth are not engaged in education or employment.

“We want to show that children with disabilities are part of society and have the same place as other children,” said Chance Through Skills Association Co-chair Tsvetelina Stamenov.

Chance Through Skills Association Co-chair Marina Bencheva pointed out that the system in Bulgaria does not work well for children with special needs. Most mothers find out during pregnancy that they will have a child with disabilities. At this point, psychologists and educators should work with the mother to provide accurate and timely information about raising a child with special needs, Bencheva explained. She pointed out that if the child is worked with from a very early age, he or she can largely lead a normal lifestyle.

The discussion was also joined by Together We Can Foundation President Vanya Todorova, who talked about horse therapy for children with special needs. She explained that it benefits the child’s muscle strengthening, as well as its breathing and swallowing.

The event was organized under the project "These children are ours, let's give them a chance", funded by the Operational Programme Good Governance, co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund. The discussion was attended by psychologists and specialists in communication with children with special needs, as well as mothers and fathers of such children.