Challenges and Achievements inthe Care and Education of Childrenwith Sensory Disabilities in Bosniaand Herzegovina (from the Late19th Century to 1941)

The beginning of state institutional care and education for children with sensory disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) dates back to the time immediately after World War II. From the late 19th century until 1941, the period covered in this article, an awareness of the importance of caring for and supporting this population gradually developed. Although the issues related to the care and education of children with disabilities became a topic of discussion at the Department for the Protection of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Social Policy, the social, economic, and political circumstances, as well as the cultural and societal attitudes towards disability hindered any significant progress in addressing these challenges. In the Kingdom of SCS/Yugoslavia, certain official legislative measures existed intended to regulate social support and education for these children. These also applied to BiH but were not adequately implemented there. Consequently, some children with sensory disabilities from BiH were sent to specialised institutions for blind and deaf children in Zagreb, Zemun, and Belgrade. However, due to the lack of space and the fact that not all children were officially registered, many remained in the care of their parents, especially mothers, and were often treated by alternative medical practitioners. It was only during the socialist Yugoslavia that significant advancements were made, including the establishment of institutions dedicated to children with sensory disabilities.