As part of the campaign "Your rights are my rights too", which is implemented by the Information Center for Persons with Disabilities "Lotos" and the Association of Blind Persons of the Sarajevo Canton, with the financial support of the European Union, we present an interview with our young activist Armin Babović about the position and situation of young people with disabilities. Armin is 25 years old, from Tuzla and is a visually impaired person. For many years, as a member of organizations and as an activist, he has participated in activities aimed at empowering young people with disabilities and fighting for their rights. He currently works at the Information Center for Persons with Disabilities "Lotos" as a project officer and focal point for young members, and since last year he has been leading the Network of Youth with Disabilities of Bosnia and Herzegovina as its president.

What is the position of young people with disabilities in society today and what are their main challenges and barriers to that they face?
My general impression is that young people with disabilities are not as involved in social events and regular social processes as their non-disabled peers. There are good examples of the inclusion of young people with disabilities in everyday events and interaction with people without disabilities outside their families, but there is still a significant number of situations where there is a distance between young people with and without disabilities. Young people with disabilities are still often seen as outsiders. I think the lack of education of young people from childhood on the concept of disability and insufficient interaction with peers with disabilities contributes to this. There is no education because its importance is not recognized through educational programs, and there is a lack of interaction because the institutions attended by all children and young people are not accessible to people with disabilities. Such institutions are physically inaccessible, and the staff is not sufficiently trained. It is the same with educational institutions, with sports and entertainment content and all other aspects.

What other services and institutions are inaccessible to young people with disabilities after school?
There is good progress in individual facilities when it comes to accessibility. Some schools have already been adapted, some health facilities, some parks and cafes have been adapted. However, the point is not that a young person has only one option available to them, because each individual has their own preferences and interests. A young man or woman with a disability should not choose which university to enroll in or which neighborhood to move to based on whether it is accessible, but whether it is what they find themselves in. Employment opportunities are very, very unfavorable and this is one of the main problems, especially long-term employment. Because of this, young people with disabilities are most often unable to achieve economic independence and plan their own and family lives, but are dependent on their family.

How proactive are young people with disabilities?
A good number of them are quite passive in the struggle for realizing their rights and in general for social activism. This is understandable because since childhood they were restrained, segregated from the system and, unfortunately, partly from their families who were not sufficiently empowered and ready to fight for their children's rights. There is still a significant number of young people with disabilities who have become aware of the importance of fighting for rights and who really work hard and with quality. There are not very many of them, but they are present in the wider country, which is also confirmed by our Network of Youth with Disabilities of Bosnia and Herzegovina through its existence and work. It should also be taken into account that our society is generally disinterested and passive in solving social and political problems.

What can the system do for young people with disabilities to support them and improve the quality of their life?
Young people with disabilities and their families need professional counseling and psychological support from the birth of a child with a disability. They also need support and advice that will show them their rights and the best mechanisms to achieve them and that will encourage them to insist on equality with others, and not on adjustments that imply segregation, isolation, and the like. The authorities and the system must work harder and faster to improve the accessibility of all public facilities, as well as public areas for all types of disabilities. It is necessary to work on raising the awareness of employers and adopt additional legal solutions that will stimulate the employment of young people with disabilities, especially for the long term. The aids and assistive technologies that young people with disabilities need for movement, communication, work, etc., are unattainable due to insufficient material support for their purchase, and some are impossible to obtain at all in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The personal assistance service must be introduced into the system. This is something that has long been recognized and appreciated in countries across Europe, including the Balkans. There are more, but these are some of the basic things that must be addressed. All parts of the system should communicate with proven relevant representatives and organizations of people with disabilities because we are not looking for benefits and we do not want to burden the system, but rather to find effective solutions for everyone through cooperation.

What would be your message to young people with disabilities who will read this interview?
My message would be not to be discouraged and not to shy away from seeking information and support from organizations of people with disabilities. Not all of them are representative and not all of them act in the interests of people with disabilities, but don't give up because of one or two bad experiences. Get informed, ask for the opinions of other young people with disabilities. There are organizations that really supported and support young people and work transparently. On the other hand, don't limit yourself to settle for something too modest, with a personal disability allowance, with a cell phone and isolation in four walls and with someone else deciding for you. It won't always be easy, but it's worth it, and that's the only way to ensure a secure future for everyone. Our parents will not live forever and we must not allow ourselves to be locked up in institutions, that's why we need to act immediately and together and if that happens, we will reduce the risk of being dependent on others and being under the control of someone who does not understand us and holds us captive.