Some of the key problems faced by people with disabilities are high unemployment, social exclusion, poverty, transportation and inaccessible access to institutions. With the introduction of the Law on Special Taxi Vehicles for Persons with Disabilities, the first step was made in the Sarajevo Canton in order to make it at least a little easier for these people to move.
People with disabilities face many problems in their environment on a daily basis. The biggest problem is inaccessibility of the institutions in the Sarajevo Canton due to not adapting to their needs, but also crossing the tram rails, says Snježana Pađen. The condition was further aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic. During this difficult time, no one paid attention to the needs of people with disabilities.
“We wrote letters, but nothing happened. We didn’t get masks, we didn’t get gloves, and we usually use gloves for our own needs. I don’t know, I haven’t heard anything that there was a COVID team for people with disabilities, in case we get sick, how will we go to the medical institution, how will do the COVID test“, said Snježana Pađen.
A glimmer of hope for easier movement through the city appeared when the Assembly of the Sarajevo Canton adopted the amendments to the Law on Taxi Transportation. This will, among other things, enable the use of special taxis for people with disabilities.
“There are six taxi signs for the transport of disabled people where the vehicle that is adapted for disabled people can be parked, so that no other vehicles other than a vehicle for the transport of disabled people can be registered for this taxi sign,” said Muamer Kukan, Assistant Minister of Transport of Sarajevo Canton.
“We had the same problem with transportation until a few days ago, when the law was finally adopted. After eight full years, we will now get a taxi that suits us, to have transportation with dignity,” said Pađen.
Numerous associations and groups of citizens have been fighting for many years to point out the problem of transportation of people with disabilities. That fight, as they said, paid off in the end.
“It took a very long time. We also made petitions, wrote various letters through the media and all the means by which we could legally, legitimately put pressure on the law to be passed, and we did it. Eight years, whatever you do, is a long time“, emphasized Zijad Omerović from the Association for the Protection of Human Rights “TAXI 8”.
The Association owns two vehicles adapted for people with disabilities. Omerović points out that the law has been adopted, but that they are waiting for the Government of Sarajevo Canton to issue licenses in order to start working. The Association says that there is no justification if the cantonal government does not approve the transport licenses within a few days, without which the transport of persons with disabilities cannot begin.
