|
Countries - Bulgaria
1. Inclusion in Gerneral
Education
According to the new Law for Protection, Rehabilitation and
Social Integration of People with Disabilities in force from
01.01.2005, the Ministry of Education an Science must provide
children with special educational needs (SEN), disabilities
and/ or chronic diseases in Bulgaria with:
• Supportive environment for integrated/inclusive education
in all educational levels (pre-school, primary and secondary
school, higher – middle school, professional education);
• Early hearing, speech, logopedical, psycological rehabilitation,
rehabilitation for blind and visually impaired children.
• Textbooks, training aids, modern technology and technical
devices for education of children with disabilities.
• Professional education for children with disabilities.
At the regional inspectorates of Ministry of Education and
Science, interdisciplinary teams are developed for the complex
pedagogical evaluation and for integration of children with
disabilities in general education.
Resource centers supporting inclusive education are also created
at the Ministry of Education and Science.
The state educational requirements concernig children and
students with SEN and/or chronic diseases were changed in
2002. Now, these students have to be integrated in general
educational system. Schools are obliged to accept children
with SEN and/or chronic diseases. Only if there are no any
possibilities for education in regular state schools and by
written request of parents, children with SEN enter special
schools or institutions. (Educational Act, 2002).
Persons with acquired disabilities at the age of 16 years
or older the have right to additional adapted general educational
or/and professional educational programmes, as well as specialised
programs for rehabilitation free of charge.
High schools and universities are obligated to provide supportive
environment, special technical aids, appropriate study materials
and additional teaching help, supporting the process of education
and assessment of people with disabilities.
Candidate-students with disabilities have an advantage to
enter universities if they participate succesfully in entrance
competitions.( High Education Law)
Students with disabilities get social grants, pensions and
some other alleviations.They don`t pay fees in state high
schools and universities.
Persons with a disability have the right to receive inclusive
professional education (initial professional qualification,
extension of qualification, long-lasting education, retraining)
Parents of children with disabilities receive financial support
at the rate of 70% of the minimal guaranteed monthly income.
Disabled people have are entitled to financial support for
assistence when they visit state, public, healthcare, educational
or other institution.
According the Law for Physical Education and Sport (amended
in 2000 and 2002), physical education, sport and tourism are
an integral part of education in pre-school, general, special
and professional educational institutions. The educational
programmes of Ministry of Education and Science are concerted
with the Mynistry of Youth and Sport.
Positive changes in Bulgarian legislation are quite new and
reality in schools is still far from its requirement and recommendations.
Not so many general education shools are accessible for children
with disabilities. There are a lot of other problems for inclusion
like unadequate state financing and special equipment support,
teachers’ knowledge and formation, parents and teachers’
attitude towards disability and special needs of children,
lack of information. A lot of parents still prefer to send
their children to special schools.
2. Inclusion in Physical education
Most of children with disabilities in general schools are
excused from regular physical educaton classes. There are
some good attempts at inclusive physical education, but they
may be defined as wonderful exceptions from the common practice.
In special schools for visually and hearing impaired children
the state requirements (about number of PE classes per week
and schoolsports) are fulfilled.
In many of special schools for children with motor disabilities,
still only physiotherapist are employed
Special schools students participate regularly in schoolsport
chamionships in different kinds of sports. There is traditionally
a strong competition between schools from diferrent towns.
The Bulgarian Paralympic Association and the Bulgarian Deaf
Sport Federation support and organise schoolsports events
for children with disabilities in special schools.
In 2005 children from some special schools (blind, deaf) participated
in regional sports events for general schools students.
In last few years in Bulgaria a variety of projects were started,
supported by EU funds or by single European countries, by
governmental and nongovernmental organisations, directed to
integration of children with disabilities through adapted
physical and sports activities.
Inclusion in Sports and Physical Activity
Government supported organisation for persons with disabilities
are the Bulgarian Paralympic Association and the Bulgarian
Deaf Sport Federation.
Also other organizations receive financial support such as
sport federations and clubs for projects and programmes for
the development of sport for disabled.
In Bulgaria there are no special normative regulation regarding
integration of people with disabilities in sport.
The Law for Physical Education and Sport (changed several
times in last years) regularises sport for people with disabilities:
• The state recognises physical activity, sport and
toursm as an importent internal human need and all Bulgarian
citizens have right to maintain and improve theire physical
abilities.
• Physical activity and sport for people with disability
are aimed to improve of their quality of life, rehabilitation
and social integration. Requiste conditions for sport practicing
in all its variety for people with disabilities have to be
provided.
• The Ministry of Youth and Sport supports and finances
sport preparation and participation of athletes with disabilities
in Paralympic games, World and European championships.
• Athletes with disabilities use state and municipal
sports facilities free of charge. People with disabilities
do not pay tickets for sports competitions.
• Planning, design and building of sports facilities
is consistent with requirements of access for people with
disabilities.
• Sports facilities must provide access and afford opportunities
for sport activiy of persons with disabilities.
• The budget of Ministry of Youth and Sport funds: physical
activity, sports and social tourism programmes and projects
for peopele with disabilities and sport for all; financial
awards and stimulations for medal-holders and well presented
disable athletes in big European and World sports events;
social support of athletes with disabilities.
Legislation regarding inclusion of adapted sports organisations
in general sports organisations.
In Bulgaria legislation regarding inclusion of adapted sports
organization in general sports organisation does not exist
yet.
Some sports federation develope sport for people with disabilities
in separated clubs or in inclusive settings (badminton, tennis,
curling, aerobics, cycling ....)
Employment of Youngsters with a disability
Empoyment of people with disabilities in Bulgaria may be in
inclusive and in special settings.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Agency of
Employment develop and carry out national programmes encouraging
enployment and giving people with disabilities equal opportunities
for participation in the labour market. These programmes stimulate
employers to engage persons with disabilities.
Employers are obligated by the Law for Integration of People
with Disabilities (2005) to adapt labour evironment to person`s
with disability needs from the moment of engagement or from
disability acquirement if the person was already employed.
Empoyers may stand for funding from Agency for People with
Disabilities for:
• improvement of accessibility
• adaptation of place of work to disabled persons’
needs
• technical aids and equipment for person with disability
Employers that engage people with disabilities enjoy some
benefits (30% reduction of all kind of insurance installments).
Specialized enterprises and co-operations for people with
disabilities also profit from benefits according to actual
Bulgarian legislation. They have to meet some requirements
concerning the relative part of people with disabilities from
the staff (at least 20% Blind ore visual impaired in specialised
enterprises and co-operations for Blind; at least 30% Deaf
or hard to hearing people in enterprises for Deaf; in enterprises
for people with other kind of disability – not less
then 50% from the total number of the staff).
There are possibilities for additional funding for programmes
and projects of people with disabilities or of specialised
enterprises and co-operations of people with disabilities.
Irena Ludmilova
http://www.minedu.government.bg/
http://www.mlsp.government.bg/
|
|
