Known as HandiKOS, the “Association of Children Paraplegics and Paralysis in Kosovo” was founded in 1983, initiated by Mr. Halit Ferizi and a group of people with disabilities, who was also chairman of the association and later on the leader of a Movement for People with Disabilities in Kosovo. Main objective of this Association was the respect of human rights and improvement of life standards among people with disabilities in Kosovo through actions in health, social welfare and employment fields, while today HandiKOS added two more thematic areas, such as: education and participation. This is achieved by empowering people with disabilities, to actively participate in all social processes. Based on statistics and evaluations of World Health Organization, there are approximately 250 thousand people with disabilities of all groups living in Kosovo. Out of this number, 20 thousand are children with disabilities, while in HandiKOS data base there are around 18 thousand registered members of people with physical and combined disabilities. HandiKOS has 14 Community Based Rehabilitation Centers, and 12 local offices that covers all Kosovo territory.
