More than 17% of Croatia’s population lives with a disability, yet many still face obstacles despite legally guaranteed rights, disability ombudsperson Darijo Jurišić said on Wednesday ahead on the occasion of the 3 December International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

He said his office continues to receive complaints about lengthy procedures for accessing the new inclusion allowance, along with concerns that the benefit is too low. Parents of children with developmental difficulties increasingly report denied or reduced kindergarten placements, limiting access to early education and support programmes.

Transport to school remains a major challenge, with many pupils relying on parents despite the ombudsperson’s view that local authorities, backed by the Education Ministry, should provide transport on an equal basis with other students.

Jurišić highlighted risks linked to institutional care, saying crowded facilities with little privacy or autonomy can foster neglect and abuse, breaching rights from freedom of movement to family life. Croatia and the EU have committed to replacing such institutions with community-based support.

He also noted that Advent events in many cities remain physically inaccessible and poorly signposted for people with disabilities, excluding them from public and cultural life.

Jurišić said people with disabilities must be involved in shaping all policies, from education and employment to technology and mobility, stressing that inclusion is a fundamental right, not a privilege.