SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: VISION AND REALITY

Abstract

The system of social protection of disabled people in the country to
its independence generally was conducted by a medical model and
developed a system of institutional care. The reforms in the social
protection system in the country (after establishing independence),
develops and promotes the social protection of disabled people in their
place of residence. The process of reforms in the field of social protection
was developed in 2003 and the adoption of certain measures and the social
protection policies are established in 2004 as a result of legislative
initiatives.
The new legislative initiatives and regulations created radical
changes in the field of social sector by introducing new solutions. Social
reforms are based on three new principles of social protection (decentralization, social inclusion and social protection plural), in order to
strengthen and adjust the Macedonian system to European and
international standards.
Approaching european and international conceptions Ministry of
Labor and Social Policy, in its policies and strategies embarked on a
process of transformation of public services, social protection of people
with intellectual disabilities through the processes of decentralization,
disinstitutionalisation, privatization and implementation of joint projects
NGOs working in the field of social protection.
In this paper will be analyzed the active local policies for people
with intellectual disabilities, as well as the capabilities and capacity of
local government to open these services to people in the community,
taking into account the above mentioned principles in social care.