On the occasion of the World Assistive Technology Day, we remind you that assistive technologies and aids are not a luxury or an additional convenience for people with disabilities. They represent a prerequisite for the realization of basic human rights.

The right to freedom of movement is guaranteed to every citizen. However, if a person using a wheelchair cannot get a suitable wheelchair or has to finance it himself, that right becomes unattainable. If a blind person cannot obtain a white cane, electronic aid or software that enables him to access information, his freedom of movement, education and work remains only a formal right on paper.

For hearing-impaired people, the lack of appropriate aids and accessible communication can mean the inability to talk to a doctor, report violence or seek help from the police. In such situations, basic rights to safety, health and even life are threatened.

Assistive technologies enable people with disabilities to study, work, communicate, use public services and live independently. That is why their availability should not depend on the financial capabilities of the individual or his family.

Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and undertook to ensure access to aids and assistive technologies.

All government institutions have a responsibility to ensure that people with disabilities receive the necessary aids without additional financial burdens.

Access to assistive technologies is not a matter of social assistance. It is a matter of human rights, equal opportunities and dignity.