Transition of young people with disabilities: the path to equality

NGO EU Harmony points out that the process of inclusion of young persons with disabilities in Montenegro, especially in the transition from the education system to the labour market, is still burdened by numerous structural, institutional and social barriers. Although there is a normative and institutional framework regulating this area, its implementation in practice still does not produce sufficiently visible results. The modern human rights approach, confirmed through the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, emphasizes the obligation of states to ensure equal access to education, justice and employment. However, in practice there is still a gap between formally guaranteed rights and their actual availability, which is especially reflected in young persons with disabilities who are leaving the education system. Analyses show that persons with disabilities still face multi-layered challenges, including insufficient accessibility of education, lack of adequate preparation for employment, as well as limited resources and adapted support programmes. Additionally, the problem of insufficient awareness of existing rights and support mechanisms contributes to the fact that a significant number of persons with disabilities do not fully exercise their legally guaranteed rights. The legislative framework in Montenegro, including the Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, as well as institutional mechanisms through the Employment Agency and the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation, represent an important basis for improving the position of persons with disabilities. However, current practice shows that the effects of these measures are still limited, especially when it comes to the systemic transition of young people from education into the world of work. For all the above reasons, EU NGO EU Harmony believes that further improvement of the system is necessary through strengthening the connection between education and employment, the development of individualized and proactive support measures, improving system accessibility, as well as consistent implementation of existing legal solutions in practice. Special emphasis should be placed on enabling independent living, greater availability of local services, and strengthening opportunities for choice and inclusion of persons with disabilities themselves.