National law and strategy

Important national laws, policies and strategies concerning disabled people include:

Laws:

Apart from the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia which mentions the rights of the people with disabilities in three articles, Slovenia has several laws regarding people with disabilities, and has adopted most of the international directives as well as the UN Convention.  The current legislation still refers to people with disabilities as 'invalids', based on the value-system from the pre-1991 era. The most important legal documents are: 

Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, Official Gazette 33/91, 42/1997, 66/2000, 24/2003, 69/2004, Articles  14, 50, 52.

The Social Care of Mentally and Physically Handicapped Persons Act 1983 (Official Gazette 41/1983) regulates the administrative status of disabled person in different categories, upon which other benefits and services may depend.

Act on the Use of Slovene Sign Language [Zakon o uporabi slovenskega znakovnega jezika, Ur.l. RS, št. 96/2002] establishes the right of deaf people to use Slovenian sign language and to access information with the same rights and opportunities as others.

Invalid Organisations Act 2002, Official Gazette 108/2000 [Zakon o invalidskih organizacijah, Ur.l. RS, št. 108/2002] regulates the status, scope, financing and property of organizations operating in the public interest in the field of disability.

Act on the Implementation of the Principle of Equal Treatment 2004, Official Gazette 50/2004.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons Act, Official Gazette 18/76, 8/90, 63/04, 63/2004. [Zakon o zaposlitveni rehabilitaciji in zaposlovanju invalidov, Ur.l. RS, št. 63/2004] regulates the right to vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled people and provides other measures and incentives for their employment.

The Health Care and Health Insurance Act 2004, Official Gazette 9/1992, 13/1993, 126/2003, 20/2004.

The Act for the Placement of children with special needs (Official Gazette of the RS, nr. 54/2000; 3/2007 http://zakonodaja.gov.si/rpsi/r02/predpis_ZAKO5112.html)

officially came to force in 2000, but it was only in 2003 when a Supplementary document ‘Rules on the organisation and methods of work of commissions for the placement of children with special needs and on criteria for determining the type and degree of disadvantages, impairments and disabilities of children with special needs' was passed that it really came to life. According to this Act, children with special needs, with the exception of some categories, can be placed in mainstream schools and receive additional support when needed. The extent and form of support is decided by the placement commissions, and should be reviewed at least once every three years.

Policy documents:

National Guidance for the Improvement of Accessibility of the Build Environment, Information and Communication for Disabled People 2005 [Nacionalne usmeritve za izboljšanje dostopnosti grajenega okolja, informacij in komunikacij za invalide] addressed accessibility in public buildings, construction of new homes, educational establishments, workplaces, information and public transport. It also committed to establish sectoral committees and responsibility within the Ministry.

The Action programme for the disabled 2007-2013 [Akcijski program za invalide 2007-2013] views disability as multi-dimensional phenomenon (in accordance with the WHO ICF) that originates from interaction with the physical and social environment. It affirms universal rights, respect for difference, non-discrimination, accessibility and an individual approach to provision across a range of areas.

Resolution on the National Programme of Social Protection 2006-2010 [Resolucija o nacionalnem programu socialnega varstva za obdobje 2006- 2010. Ur.l. RS 39/2006 (ReNPSV06-10)