Information Centre for Persons with Disabilities "Lotos" Tuzla

Information Centre for Persons with Disabilities "Lotos" is non-profit making organization which operates at the area of entire Bosnia and Herzegovina. Information Centre "Lotos" gathers individuals with or without disability who are interested to contribute to the implementation of the mission with their own work either on professional or volunteer basis. Information Centre "Lotos" has arisen from the idea that persons with disabilities should be positively represented in community. In terms of that, the idea had been supported by British Charity Oxfam (GB) in 1996. In November 1997., Information Centre "Lotos" was registered with the Ministry of Justice in accordance with local law as non-governmental organization.

The mission of Information Centre is:

With its work to influence creation of democratic civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina in which disability issues will be considered as human rights issues, and women and men with disabilities will face no barriers in education, employment, health and social insurance, in-door and out-door freedom of movement, and in use of necessary services of support when realizing rights at which they are entitled to as human beings.

Aims

- To offer a new approach to disability issues in society so that persons with Disabilities would have the right to decide upon the organization of their own life;
- To promote the principles of equal opportunities which would give dignity to people with disabilities within society;
- To influence the adoption of more favorable legal solution in the area of social and health care, education, employment and safety at work, old age insurance and disability insurance and regulation of all other rights for persons with disabilities which would enable provision of basic means for living;
- To give information about the rights of persons with disabilities. This includes organization of different public activities and media campaigns.

Vision

- Information Centre "Lotos" plans stronger involvement in development of community based services (CBR) especially services for adults like training for vocational rehabilitation and gaining new working skills, training for enabling employment opportunities, training for occupational therapy and personal assistance services .
- Together with other organizations of persons with disabilities and other non governmental organizations in the region, Information Centre "Lotos" plans to actively participate in harmonization of legislation with the standards of European Union.
- Through strengthening the partnerships among different disabled peoples organizations, Information Centre "Lotos" plans to work on development and strengthening the disability movement not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but within the region of Western Balkans.