Judith Heumann in BiH: Continuous support of the US Government for persons with disabilities

As part of her visit to the region, Judith Heumann, Special Advisor to the US State Department for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, will visit together with the US Ambassador to BiH, Maureen Cormack and the newly appointed USAID BiH Director, Peter Duffy, the service center for children with disabilities "Dajte nam šansu" (Give us a chance) on Friday, October 9, at Trg međunarodnog prijateljstva 8, in Sarajevo, reports the Patria News Agency.

Judith Heumann, an international leader in the disability community who has advocated for their rights her entire life, will visit this center during her stay in our country, which was opened with USAID support as the first of its kind in BiH. The visit demonstrates the continuous support of the American government for BiH children and adults with intellectual, psychological, or physical difficulties. It will also be an opportunity to discuss the further promotion of human rights for persons with disabilities in BiH.

The service center for children with disabilities provides parents and guardians with a safe, rehabilitative place for their children and youth with disabilities to stay, as well as psychological support and information about legal rights.

This center allows family members to use their time to exercise their own fundamental human rights – the right to work and live their own lives, and provides children with an environment to improve psycho-social development. By establishing such a center and providing such support, USAID helps strengthen families, economically empower mothers, and supports the social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

To date, the US government, primarily through USAID, has provided more than $1.6 billion in assistance intended to support economic, democratic, and social progress in BiH, it was announced from USAID.