Persons with Developmental Difficulties in the Social Care System

The condition in the Croatian social care system for persons with mental retardation & other difficulties is not satisfactory, as the existing concept is not acceptable from the standpoint of human rights, international conventions, & quality of life offered to an individual. Establishment of a dual system (regular & special) with the aim of fulfilling different needs of persons with difficulties (upbringing, education, rehabilitation, health care, employment, etc) has proved, in our country & abroad, as an expensive & generally substandard approach to the solution of problems faced by persons with difficulties. Despite considerable investments of the social community into building of institutions during some 50 years, the fact is that only a third of persons with difficulties were involved in professional treatments in those institutions, while the remaining majority was placed in inadequate social care or health care institutions or lived at home with almost no professional support or help. Since the 1990s, the social model in the rehabilitation of persons with difficulties prevailed in the developed countries of the world. It is based on the philosophy of inclusion & it promotes the right of every person to participation in the community life, regardless of their characteristics which separate them from the so-called "average" or majority. In order to achieve inclusion, it is necessary to develop a network of professional support services in local communities which will, respecting the principle of the least restrictive environment, provide each person with difficulties, in accordance with their individual needs, that scope & form of support that will ensure their stay in the community & a successful participation in social life. 1 Table, 1 Figure, 32 References. Adapted from the source document.