The Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, accompanied by Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in BiH, Zahira Virani and Deputy Representative of UNICEF in BiH, Anne Claire Dufay, visited today EDUS program “Education for all” at the Mjedenica Institute. The visit was organised on the occasion of the forthcoming World Autism Day (2 April).
The EDUS programme for advancement of education and support to children with developmental delays is ongoing for the fourth school year and has been largely financed by the European Union from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).
The Executive Director of EDUS, Dr. Nirvana Pistoljevic presented on this occasion what has been achieved with the EU assistance, and what are the plans for the further progress.
Dr. Nirvana Pištoljevic, Scientist at Columbia University in New York, informed Ambassador Sorensen about the scientific methodology of applied behavior analysis which she has introduced after her arrival from USA in 2010 in several departments of the Mjedenica Institute and in 2012 in the EDUS Center for Early Intervention. In addition, since this methodology is intended for work with children and for training of specialists and parents, she also presented in individual examples what did children learn and how they progressed.
“All children have right to education. We do not want to focus on disabilities but on abilities. What we saw today is Centre of Excellency in BiH that many other countries would love to have. Early intervention can make difference and we fortunate to have such expertise in EDUS. The EU with its partners, UNDP, UNICEF and USAID support these efforts to create society that helps to vulnerable groups. This is really a good example of how the EU assistance can help“ stated Ambassador Sorensen after the visit.
So far, the services of EUDS program have been used by 250 children, and more than 170 children have received daily multidisciplinary treatment from 15-23 hrs weekly. The parents of children have been trained and trainings were also provided through direct work to experts (educators, speech therapists, counselors, psychologists, physiotherapists and social workers). The ultimate goal is to include as many children as possible in regular classes without help of assistants and for everyone to get the opportunity to achieve their full potential, using the principles of early intervention and advanced scientific practice.
The EDUS continuously provides trainings to professionals from whole BiH with aim to enable access to quality education and support to as many children with developmental disabilities as possible. The EDUS is committed to make advance practice, implemented in their Association, available for all children on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the education and health system.
EU supported the work of the EUDS through projects implemented by the UNDP “Strengthening Local Democracy/Democracy LOD II and III” and by the UNICEF “Strengthening the Social Protection and inclusion System for Children in BiH” in the amount up to 200.000 euros.
