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Academic inclusive association, as the successor of (Association of students with disabilities) works on a main fields which have the biggest importance for ensuring an equal role for all individuals in the society.
Organization was founded to obtain the rights of young with disabilities in high education, but by that time, the association was significantly expanded own working fields. Following the needs of persons with disabilities in Serbia, the association devoted itself to all spheres in which persons with disabilities don’t have equal conditions and the equality. In every field, AIA always directs its attention to main actors, decision makers and the general public who need to raise awareness about an inclusive society, but also to empower and motivate people with disabilities to self-represent and take initiative in all spheres that interest them.
High education
The Academic Inclusive Association, or the (Association of Students with disabilities), had the original role of providing all the necessary support for people with disabilities in the field of higher education. Shortly after its establishment and by advocacy, AIA was succeeded to influence on the mitigating criteria for obtaining the right to a republican student scholarship. Thanks to AIA, all students with disabilities who are in the budget status are entitled to the Republic Scholarship awarded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development. In addition, AIA played a significant role in the implementation of inclusive education in Serbia due to its constant insistence on abolishing special schools and enabling children with disabilities to be equal and have equal educational opportunities. AIA has also contributed to the education of practitioners on inclusive education, adequate application and giving of appropriate support for students with disabilities. With its persistence, AIA succeeded to influence the fact that the Law of Higher Education, which was adopted in 2017, guarantees students with disabilities the right to enroll in the budget status with the application of milder criteria, but also the right to be actively involved in the work of student parliaments. For years, the Academic Inclusive Association has been continuously implementing projects dedicated to improving the conditions and quality of all aspects of higher education for young people with disabilities. Also, AIA listens to the suggestions, needs and problems of its members and based on that, designs and plans its activities in the field of higher education. A constant activity that takes place throughout the year is the support service for students with disabilities. AIA daily informs students with disabilities about their rights in the field of higher education, provides them with support in communication with higher education institutions and defense against discrimination. In addition, it provides them with support in the form of professional orientation and informing future students about their rights and studies, support when applying for the entrance exam according to affirmative measures, writing applications and recommendations to higher education institutions, mediation when applying for a student scholarship, as well as daily counseling about fulfilling student obligations.
Political participation
The academic inclusive association recognized the need to equalize opportunities in the active participation of persons with disabilities, according to their aspirations. The active participation of persons with disabilities in political life will enable them, according to their competences, to fight for all important social issues. AIA has recognized the necessity of educating both politicians and members who will one day be able to be among the decision makers. With their project activities, AIA representatives actively hold workshops intended for politicians, but also trainings for their members, where the greatest experts transfer knowledge about political systems, the functions of political parties and the way they are organized, but also how people with disabilities can be active in the political sphere. On the other hand, AIA representatives discuss with all significant political actors the importance of social inclusion, adequate support systems, ways of improving their program so that it is in accordance with valid national and international documents. The goal of the Academic Inclusive Association is to enable all persons with disabilities to actively participate in the political life of Serbia and to provide them with adequate support for this.
Youth activism
The academic inclusive association advocates for the active participation of young people with disabilities in all areas and youth activities. Youth activism is an area to which AIA is particularly committed in its desire to make the activities of youth organizations accessible and inclusive. AIA has been educating youth workers for years about ways to include young people with disabilities equally, but also how to contribute to the development of an inclusive society and raise awareness of the importance of social inclusion through their activities. On the other hand, our organization constantly works to empower young people with disabilities for activist action, self-advocacy and youth work. Young people with disabilities always have the opportunity to engage actively through the initiatives of the Academic Inclusive Association and to contribute to the creation of a fairer socie
Employment
As an academic organization, whose members are highly educated people, the Academic Inclusive Association recognized the need to improve conditions in the field of employment of persons with disabilities. AIA has initiated negotiation processes with a number of companies seeking to provide jobs and internship opportunities for people with disabilities. The website zaposlenje.ush.rs was launched with the aim of connecting people with disabilities who are looking for a job or professional practice and employers who want to provide work or practice for people with disabilities and provide them with all the support they need to perform their work tasks. The site contains job and internship ads, but also anonymous profiles of candidates for internships and jobs that contain all the information about their competencies, education, experience and the support they need. In addition, the site offers educational and informative content in the form of a virtual advisor, for example video clips that provide useful information for all job seekers: advice for job interviews and preparing for an interview, suggestions for communicating with the employer about the necessary support based to a type of disability , information on labor market rights, etc. The Academic Inclusive Association conducted research on the implementation of the Law on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities and the position of persons with disabilities on the labor market in Serbia, and you can view the results here. Our organization also actively works on career counseling for people with disabilities, empowerment for active job search and information about employment opportunities. On the other hand, AIA has educational workshops for companies on providing adequate support for persons with disabilities in the workplace and provides advisory services to employers who wish to employ persons with disabilities.
