We have collected important data for the project “Mapping the Needs of Persons with Disabilities in the area of Kastav and surrounding municipalities (Viškovo, Matulji, Klana)

Our project, “Mapping the Needs of Persons with Disabilities in the area of Kastav and the surrounding municipalities (Viškovo, Matulji, Klana)” completed its first phase, in which we collected statistical data on the number of persons with disabilities in the City of Kastav, the Municipality of Matulji and the Municipality of Klana.

The goal of this project is to examine the needs of persons with disabilities in the area of these municipalities and the city of Kastav, and to plan the provision of social services, primarily accommodation and psychosocial support, according to the actual needs of persons with disabilities. These social services are a primary factor in the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the community. And these are also their rights.

We invite you, persons with disabilities and your families, to contact us if you are interested in participating in this action! By email at [email protected], or on mobile, 0915580920.

We received the support of the City of Kastav, in our effort to make social services available in the community for persons with disabilities, so together we plan to expand the network of available social services in this area. How quickly we will succeed in this depends on the activity and involvement of persons with disabilities themselves, as well as the support of the entire community and surrounding municipalities.

Other municipalities have expressed interest, so in the coming period we will continue to plan together and create new opportunities for persons with disabilities. The goal of the project is to create the necessary conditions for the opening of the new “Friends Daycare Center” for the provision of social services in Kastav.

The methodology by which we examine the needs of persons with disabilities is in accordance with the REGULATION ON UNIQUE METHODOLOGY FOR NEEDS ASSESSMENT, https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_08_90_1398.html.  according to which the new Social Plan for Primorje-Gorski County will be drawn up. This document is and will be a fundamental one for planning in local self-government units. This project also contributes to the creation of the new Social Plan of PGC.

So far, we have collected data on the number of persons with difficulties in the area and according to the difficulties recorded in the Register of Persons with Disabilities, as well as data on the types of benefits and assistance available to them in their municipalities and the City of Kastav.

According to data from the Register of Persons with Disabilities (Croatian Institute of Public Health) and the CBS, Population Census 2021:

• 10,265 inhabitants live in Kastav, of which 1,145 have a disability. 336 children with developmental difficulties, and persons with disabilities in the age group up to 50, live in Kastav.

• 10,788 inhabitants live in Matulji, of which 1,253 have a disability. Children with developmental difficulties and persons with disabilities, in the age group up to 50 years old, 360 people live in Kastav.

• 16,015 people live in Viškovo, of which 1,827 have a disability. Children with developmental difficulties and persons with disabilities in the age group up to 50 years that live in Viškovo, are 594 in total.

• 1,856 inhabitants live in Klana, of which 226 have a disability. Children with developmental difficulties and persons with disabilities, in the age group of up to 50 years of age, number a total of 40 in Kastav.

For the majority of persons with disabilities in this area, there are no programs the activities of which would have a favorable effect on equalizing the opportunities of persons with disabilities. The majority of persons with disabilities are not involved in any activities in the community. A small group of persons with disabilities is included in the social service of residence or accommodation at the Rehabilitation Center in Rijeka, which means that they are still not included in the community where their family lives and where they grew up. A small part of persons with disabilities have personal assistants, but the majority do not. There is no association in this area that would gather persons with disabilities, which means that they are relegated exclusively to the assistance of their families. There is an association in Kastav that has programs aimed at children with developmental difficulties. It is the duty of the state and the local community to create the necessary conditions for equalizing the opportunities of persons with disabilities (we will collect the exact data on inclusion at a later time).

According to the data of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, the group of persons with disabilities, who are the primary group of interest to our program of providing half-day stay social services, and psychosocial support, for which we have a license from the relevant ministry, according to preliminary estimates, is about one third of the total population of persons with disabilities. These are groups of adults with combined difficulties, the most common of which are those from the spectrum of autism, ADHD, intellectual difficulties, mental difficulties, or difficulties in psychosocial functioning. A small part receives adequate care, and a larger part is not included in the community.

To date, in this area, local self-government units provide benefits and assistance for persons with disabilities and children with developmental difficulties.

The City of Kastav provides the following benefits and assistance for children with developmental difficulties and persons with disabilities:

• Co-financing of organized meals for persons with disabilities
• One-time grants/funding of organized transportation for children and students with developmental difficulties
• Co-financing of meals for children and students with developmental difficulties
• Co-financing of transport for persons with disabilities
• Co-funding of the social service of psychosocial support for children.

The Municipality of Matulji ensures the following:

• Co-financing of organized transportation for children and students with developmental difficulties
• Co-financing of organized transportation for persons with disabilities and students;
• Co-financing of transportation for persons with disabilities;
• Co-financing of meals for children and students with developmental difficulties;
• Co-financing of organized meals for persons with disabilities;
• Co-financing of the purchase of firewood for persons with disabilities;
• Occasional gift vouchers for children with developmental difficulties and persons with disabilities;
• Assistance for the purchase of orthopaedic aids;
• One-time grants;
• The right to help at home for persons with disabilities.

The Municipality of Viškovo ensures the following:

• Co-financing of transport for persons with disabilities
• Co-financing of meals for children and students with developmental difficulties.

For the Municipality of Klana, we do not have data on the number of allowances and assistance for persons with disabilities.

You can see all the data collected so far at: Mapping the needs of Persons with Disabilities Kastav, Matulji, Viškovo, Klana.pptx

Get in touch so we can help you get involved!

The project is financed by the City of Kastav. “Mapping the needs of Persons with Disabilities from Kastav and the surrounding municipalities of Matulji, Viškovo and Klana, is one of the groups of activities/projects from the 3-year program called “Daycare Center Friends”. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the DIP, and does not necessarily reflect the position of the city of Kastav.