THE ROLE OF PERSONAL ASSISTANCE IN THE DAILY LIFE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES – FROM THE PROVIDER’S PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Personal assistance represents one of the most significant services that people with disabilities can utilize in social welfare. The importance of this service is manifold, arising from the possibility of individual support for maintaining and improving the daily lives of people with disabilities, as well as active participation in the community in which they live and involvement in all areas of social life. It can be said that personal assistance has found its significant place in the social inclusion of people with disabilities, precisely because this service, in addition to assistance in daily activities, also includes assistance in activities related to the social life of people with disabilities. Therefore, it is one of the key mechanisms in overcoming the barriers and challenges faced by people with disabilities in meeting their needs and functioning in general. The importance of personal assistance as a service in the social welfare system has been recognized in the territory of Republika Srpska. This paper will provide an overview of the provision of this service in Republika Srpska, focusing on the example of the city of Banja Luka and the perspective of the service provider in the territory of Banja Luka.