The disabled people in Kresna, who have been registered within the Social Care Directorate, are 168, among who 134 at the lowest social status and minimum monthly income. The social isolation and insecurity among these people is high and creates the necessity to ensure timely access to information and legal advice and consultations. The overall architectural environment within the town does not allow for easy access of the disabled people to the municipal administration and the social care services. There is no timely and up-to-date information related to legislative changes, which affect the disabled people. There is a strong need to create conditions at the local level, which would allow for better access to information, consultations and administrative services from disabled people.

The first step, which the disabled people s club undertakes within the project, was to address the Municipal Council and ask for support regarding ensuring an office space, situated near to the municipal administrations and in the centre of the town. As a result from this request the Municipal Council provided to the Club the office space, free of charge, for the purposes of the social ombudsman activities. The office has around 30 sq. m. office space and the Club members built a ramp at its entrance, so it is easy accessible by all disabled people. The office space has been improved and enlarged and this created good possibilities both for the organising the office of the social ombudsman, as well as for the opening of a room, where disabled people and elderly people could find support and be part of various social events and contacts.

The Social Ombudsman office has been furnished and equipped with a multi-functional scanner, copier and printer, computer and fax, which gave new possibilities for the provision of administrative services to the disabled and socially weak people. Later on, the office had also access to Internet.

The new function of the Social Ombudsman has been announced in the community and the project started with the selection of the best person, who could fulfil the duties of the Ombudsman. After several interviews, the selection committee chose Kiril Dimitrov a person, who was familiar with the problems of the disabled people, ready to work for them and provide the necessary services and assistance. The office developed a set of regulations and description of the types of services, which can be provided to the disabled people. The Ombudsman opened a registry book, in which every consultation, advice, processing of a inquiry or provision of an administrative service has been registered.

2 legal consultation lectures have been organised for the disabled people, during which specialists provided the latest information regarding the changes in various legal acts concerning disabled people; types of social services available for the disabled people, role and responsibilities of all local, regional and national institutions providing social services, as well as the latest updates and possibilities for disabled people to start-up their own small-scale business.

Several entertainment events have also been organised within the Club chess tournaments, concerts, and visits to disabled people s homes. The Club initiated a visit to several tourist sites in the region, which were accessible for disabled people.

The project helped the enlargement and improvement of the Disabled People`s Club and supported the development of a new scale of initiatives, including social protection and representation; provision of information and administrative services; legal advice and consultation. Through the organised legal lectures the disabled people and also elderly people from the municipality increased their awareness about the latest legislative changes and aspects of the existing legislation of greatest use to them. After the end of the project, the support of the office and the activity of the Social Ombudsman will be ensured by the Municipality.

Contacts:

Georgi Shterev

Disabled People s Club - Kresna

2840 Kresna

96 Macedonia str.