We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

WE GOT THERIGHT TO VOTE

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Winter 2013

Newsletter of the Association for Self-Advocacy Issue 9

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

2

EDITORIAL

EditorSenada Halilčević

JournalistsHrvoje FornerSnježana KanjirFadil Špuren BracoNera Bajzec

AssistantsIvana PoslonIvana BašićSanja HotkoDamjan Janjušević

This newsletter was supported by a grant from the Open Society Fundations and the

City of Zagreb. HOW PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LEGALCAPACITY GOT THE RIGHT TO VOTE

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Newsletter of the Association for Self-Advocacy

3

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Voice of Self-Advocates

4

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Newsletter of the Association for Self-Advocacy

5

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Voice of Self-Advocates

6

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Newsletter of the Association for Self-Advocacy

7

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Voice of Self-Advocates

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

10

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Newsletter of the Association for Self-Advocacy

11

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Voice of Self-Advocates

12

ZABAVNIK

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Newsletter of the Association for Self-Advocacy

13

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Voice of Self-Advocates

14

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

Newsletter of the Association for Self-Advocacy

ARIES (31 MARCH - 20 APRIL)You will talk a lot to persons of the opposite sex.New love is close. You will show what it means to be a good worker.

TAURUS (21 APRIL - 20 MAY)You will feel romantic temptations. Trust your heart and you will not go wrong.You will be very successful in jobs you do yourself.

BLIZANAC (21.5.- 20.6.)You will fall in love in the 1 half of the year.The 2 part of the year is a chance to save some money.

CANCER (21 JUNE - 20 JULY)Something new is waiting for you in love. Be open to it.There will be more good business opportunities. You have the strength to realize them.

LEO (21 JULY - 21 AUGUST)If you like someone, tell him or her. A surprise is waiting for you.Be active, go for walks in the nature and socialize with people.

VIRGO (22 AUGUST - 22 SEPTEMBER)You will put on pink glasses. For you the world is full of love.Rely on yourself and you will have success at work.

LIBRA (23 SEPTEMBER - 22 OCTOBER)In love you know what you want, but sometimes you need to adapt.In business there will be a lot of activity. You will need your creativity.

SCORPIO (23 OCTOBER - 22 NOVEMBER)Good development in your love life is up to you.Relax and everything will work out.

SAGITTARIUS (23 NOVEMBER - 21 DECEMBER)In the 1 part of the year you will have a happy event. Maybe even a wedding!You will do your work tasks easily.

CAPRICORN (22 DECEMBER - 20 JANUARY)In the 2 part of the year you will have some nice romantic opportunities.Good healthy habits are making you strong. Keep it up!

AQUARIUS (21 JANUARY - 19 FEBRUARY)You will have a lot of fun, and some may fall in love.In business you could have great results.

PISCES (20 FEBRUARY - 20 MARCH)Relax! Now is the time for love!You will become an expert in your work.

15

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

How can I approach a girl?Around me I see girls I like, but I do not know how to approach them.

If you like a girl, try to get to know her better �rst.In conversation �nd out what she is like as a person, what she likes, what she wants in life.You can invite her for a walk or co�ee.When you know her better, you will see if you are good for each other.Then you can ask her to be your girlfriend.If you like a girl you do not know, do not ask her to be your girlfriend right away.That could scare her.It is better to try to meet her �rst.When you tell a girl you like her, if she says she does not like you,you have to respect that and leave her alone.

HOROSCOPE FOR 2013Horoscope tells us how stars in�uence our lives.

The position of the stars in the moment you were born tells us what our future looks like.

Check the date of your birth and take a look in your future!

Voice of Self-Advocates

16

ARIES (31 MARCH - 20 APRIL)You will talk a lot to persons of the opposite sex.New love is close. You will show what it means to be a good worker.

TAURUS (21 APRIL - 20 MAY)You will feel romantic temptations. Trust your heart and you will not go wrong.You will be very successful in jobs you do yourself.

BLIZANAC (21.5.- 20.6.)You will fall in love in the 1 half of the year.The 2 part of the year is a chance to save some money.

CANCER (21 JUNE - 20 JULY)Something new is waiting for you in love. Be open to it.There will be more good business opportunities. You have the strength to realize them.

LEO (21 JULY - 21 AUGUST)If you like someone, tell him or her. A surprise is waiting for you.Be active, go for walks in the nature and socialize with people.

VIRGO (22 AUGUST - 22 SEPTEMBER)You will put on pink glasses. For you the world is full of love.Rely on yourself and you will have success at work.

LIBRA (23 SEPTEMBER - 22 OCTOBER)In love you know what you want, but sometimes you need to adapt.In business there will be a lot of activity. You will need your creativity.

SCORPIO (23 OCTOBER - 22 NOVEMBER)Good development in your love life is up to you.Relax and everything will work out.

SAGITTARIUS (23 NOVEMBER - 21 DECEMBER)In the 1 part of the year you will have a happy event. Maybe even a wedding!You will do your work tasks easily.

CAPRICORN (22 DECEMBER - 20 JANUARY)In the 2 part of the year you will have some nice romantic opportunities.Good healthy habits are making you strong. Keep it up!

AQUARIUS (21 JANUARY - 19 FEBRUARY)You will have a lot of fun, and some may fall in love.In business you could have great results.

PISCES (20 FEBRUARY - 20 MARCH)Relax! Now is the time for love!You will become an expert in your work.

We held many informational workshops.Day before the parliamentary electionswe organized a workshop whereall of our members could vote.

We spoke to State Election Commission,Ministry of Administration and other relevant institutions.We told them that the existing lawviolated fundamental human rights.

Ombudsperson for Persons with Disabilities,other associations of persons with disabilities and Association GONGadvocated for change, besides Association for Self Advocacy.

Joint e�orts pay o�On 14 December 2012 Croatian Parliamentadopted the new Law on Voting Lists.

According to the new Law persons deprived of legal capacityare registered in the voting list.That means that those persons got the right to vote.That allows persons deprived of legal capacityto participate in political and public lifeon equal basis as other citizens.

The �ght is not overNow it is up to relevant institutionslike the State Election Commission and Ministry of Administration to ensure conditionsfor persons with intellectual disabilities to votewhen they get to polling stations.

Dear readers, at the very beginning

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Last year was very good and successful for self-advocates.

In this newsletter we decided to point out

the most important things that happened in 2012.

One of them is that the Law on Voting Lists was

adopted which gives the right to vote to persons

deprived of legal capacity.

I hope you will find something that will

interest you in this issue.

The condition before the new Law on Voting ListsThe right to vote means that we have the right to participate

and vote in elections. It is a fundamental human right.

However, according to the old Law on Voting Lists,

persons deprived of legal capacity could not be

entered on the voting list.

Many persons with intellectual disabilities are deprived of legal capacity.

That means that many persons with intellectual disabilities

did not have the right to vote.

That was against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

Process of changesThat is why Association for Self Advocacy o�ered to helpits members to �ght for the right to vote.

It is their duty to enter persons deprived of legal capacity in the voting list.Voting list is the o�cial list of persons who have the right to vote.

It is also their duty to familiarizemembers of election committees with the new law.

Many persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill live in social care institutions.Polling stations must be ensured in institutionsto allow them to realize their right to vote.

Press conferenceAssociation for Self Advocacy together with association Shine and association GONG held a press conference.The objective of the conference was to familiarize the public that persons deprived of legal capacitynow have the right to vote.

At the conference we warned the relevant institutions that they have to do their jobso that persons deprived of legal capacitycan realize their right to votein the next elections.

Fadil Špuren, self-advocate deprived of legal capacitywhose right to vote was restored, said:„It is with pride that I await the day of elections,that Sunday when I will give my vote to my favourite candidate, equally with other citizens of this country.I hope that this law will not remain a dead letterand that I will be able to realize my right to votein the local elections next year.“

Written by Sanja Hotko and Senada Halilčević

If I was late for lunch, I would not get anything to eat.I was locked in the room and ordered what to do.I did the job that the cleaning lady was supposed to do.I was tired of all of that.

How did you decide to leave the institution?In the institution we had a group where we did self-advocacy.There I learned what is living in the community.It was my big wish to leave the institution andlive in the community and I told my social worker.

Where do you live now?Now I live in an apartment in Savska Street.I clean and do chores here too, but no one makes me do it.I share chores with my roommates.Assistants help us with the chores.

What does living in the community mean to you?Living in the community means a lot to me.I feel more independent and I am not afraid of anything anymore.I have a lot of freedom and I can organize my own time myself.I have to be careful not to be late for work.

Was the change di�cult for you?The hardest thing was to learn to get around town and which tram to take.I got support when I needed it.

What is your job?I work in the work centre. There I saw, draw and write.I feel rich because it develops my motor skills.Still, I would like to have a real job so I could make money for a laptop.

How do you see your future?Now I want to stay in the community living program.But some day when I do not need that program,I would like to get married and live completely independently.

Interview by Fadil Špuren

NEWS

Participation of persons with disabilitiesin political life and sports and mediaA conference was organizedon International day of persons with disabilitieson 3 December 2012 in the European Commission in Brussels.The subject of the conference was participation of personswith disabilities in political life and sportsand on media appearances of persons with disabilities.

At the conference we learned that persons with intellectual disabilitiescan not vote in most European countries.We talked about what support persons withdisabilities need to realize their right to vote.We met some athletes with disabilities.They talked about how they fought and succeeded in sports.

We saw several short �lms which talk aboutthe rights of persons with disabilities.The city of Berlin won a prize for accessibilityfor persons with disabilities.Senada Halilčević participated at the conferencewith the support of her assistant.

Written by Senada Halilčević and Ivana Bašić

Presenting the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doingAt the end of last year we started working on the projectHuman rights advocacy through learning by doing.We are implementing this project in cooperation with GONG.The project is funded by the European Commission.

With this project we want to improve protectionof human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities.The right to vote is especially important.

Implementation of the project is going very well.Together with partners from GONG we participatedin adopting the Law on Voter Lists.

aw on Voter Lists determined who will be able to votein elections in Croatia.Together with partners from GONG and other organizationswe succeeded to give equal right to vote to all citizens.In the future persons deprived of legal capacitywill have the right to vote and will be able to participate in elections.

We will continue our good cooperation with GONG in 2013.We will make brochures and hold workshops on the right to vote in 13 cities across Croatia.We will �lm a TV commercial and several short �lms.With these activities we want to encourage self-advocatesto use their right to vote and participate in elections.

Written by Damjan Janjušević

Expanding the self-advocacy network in CroatiaAssociation for Self Advocacy continues to cooperatewith self-advocacy groups in Croatia.

This year self-advocates from 13 Croatiancities will talk about their rights in workshops.

Some of the subjects of workshops will be:• the right to vote,• the right to live in the community,• education,• employment,• legal capacity,• �ghting discrimination.

We will make a short �lm about the workof self-advocacy groups in Croatia.We will also write a brochureabout the work of Association for Self Advocacywhich celebrates 10 years this year.

We will present the �lm and brochureat the European conference of self-advocateswhich will be held in Zagreb in October.We want as many persons with intellectualdisabilities to be familiar with their rights.We got money for this project from Open Society.

Written by Ivana Poslon

How we celebrated New YearAssociation for Promoting Inclusion and Association for Self Advocacy organized a New Year's party together.We assembled with fun music.We greeted midnight with �reworks and champagne.In the ra�e everyone picked their lucky numberand got a New Year's gift.

FUN PAGES

SPORTSFootballIn 2012 the football representationof Croatia played great.

Now it is 2013 and in March quali�cationsfor world championship 2014 will begin.

On 26 March Croatia will play with Wales,on 7 June with Scotland,on 9 September with Serbia,on 11 October with Belgium.

I hope we will play well and go to the world championship.

Written by Nera Bajzec

What can you do in your free time?Visit a library and read.To borrow books, you have to be a member of the library.You can become a member by �lling out an application form and pay the fee at the library.The fee is 50 HRK for one year.You can borrow up to 4 books.You have to read and return the books in 21 days.In the summer you can borrow 5 books.In libraries which have a reading sectionyou can also read newspapers.

Book recommendationThe best book I have read is called Quantum of Solace.The book was written by Ian Fleming.

The right to live in the communityCroatia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The Convention says that people should live in the community.

Unfortunately, many persons with intellectual disabilitiesin Croatia still live in institutions.

That is why Croatia decidedto start the process of deinstitutionalization.That means that less people will live in institutions,and more people will live in the community.Persons who leave the institutions will get supportthey need to live in the community.

Unfortunately, some people thinkthat persons with intellectual disabilities are safer in institutionsand that life in the community would be very di�cult for them,even impossible.

However, self-advocate Nenad Sekušakproved that living in the communityfor persons with intellectual disabilitiesis de�nitely possible.Read the interview with Nenadand learn his story!

Written by Ivana Poslon

INTERVIEW WITH NENAD

Can you describe life in institution?In the institution I always lived by the same programs.I had to go to bed in the afternoon when I was not sleepyand help dress other users, or I would get a minus.

Visit to Croatian ParliamentOn the Day of persons with disabilitiesself-advocates visited the Croatian Parliament.There we had info stalls, together with other associations of persons with disabilities.At the stall we presented our Association,handed out brochures and newsletter.President of Parliament Josip Leko and members of parliament visited the stalls.We were glad that we could talk to themand tell them our messages.

Written by Snježana Kanjir

Finished projects �nanced by the City of ZagrebIn 2012 Association for Self Advocacy got moneyfrom the City of Zagreb for two projects.

The �rst project was I exist, too!We used the money for that project to hold computer workshops in our association.Many self-advocates learned to write on the computer or use the Internet.The rest of the money we used to hold meetings of self-advocates.Users from Centre for Rehabilitation Zagrebparticipated in the meetings.

The second project for which we got moneywas Allow us to introduce ourselves.We made a �lm about 2 conference of Croatian self-advocates with the money from this project.The title of the �lm is Equal rights for all people.You can see the �lm on our website.We used the rest of the moneyto pay for printing this newsletter.

Written by Ivana Poslon

We celebrated and danced until early morning hours.We wish that this year is full of dancing, laughterand great fun as our party was!

Written by Snježana Kanjir

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pathways conferenceA conference about easy to read materials and lifelong learning will be held in Zagreb on 22 February 2013.At the conference we will present brochureson writing easy to read materials.Persons with intellectual disabilities need information ineasy to read form to understand and learn new things.We will talk about lifelong learningfor persons with intellectual disabilities.Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that persons with intellectual disabilitieshave the right to learn and get education all their life,even after they �nish school.Unfortunately, in Croatia persons with intellectual disabilitiesstill cannot participate in lifelong learning programs.That is why we will inviterepresentatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sportand representatives of lifelong learning institutions.We will talk about the ways in whichlifelong learning programs can be adaptedso that persons with intellectual disabilities can participate in them.

Written by Ivana Bašić and Snježana Kanjir

It is about a secret agent James Bond 007.It is a crime novel about a spy.

Written by Fadil Špuren

Goga's quizzesWhich head does not have a nose?A head of lettuce!

Written by Gordana Huzek

ADVICE CORNER

How can I approach a girl?Around me I see girls I like, but I do not know how to approach them.

If you like a girl, try to get to know her better �rst.In conversation �nd out what she is like as a person, what she likes, what she wants in life.You can invite her for a walk or co�ee.When you know her better, you will see if you are good for each other.Then you can ask her to be your girlfriend.If you like a girl you do not know, do not ask her to be your girlfriend right away.That could scare her.It is better to try to meet her �rst.When you tell a girl you like her, if she says she does not like you,you have to respect that and leave her alone.

HOROSCOPE FOR 2013Horoscope tells us how stars in�uence our lives.

The position of the stars in the moment you were born tells us what our future looks like.

Check the date of your birth and take a look in your future!

Newsletter of the Association for Self-Advocacy

b) Government c) Parliamenta) President of

the Parliament

b) Starsa) Eagle c) Red and white

chess field

a) Hum b) Medvedgrad c) Mali Lošinj

Who makes laws?

What is on the coat of arms of the European Union?

What is the smallest town in the world?

Created by Neno Medić, Ivo Pala and Snježana Kanjir

QUIZ

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