Building Inclusive Communities: MODS’ innovative support for children with disabilities
Ahead of the European Day of Persons with Disabilities Conference, the Network of Organisations for Children of Serbia (MODS) highlights its work on developing innovative social services to support children with disabilities in living and thriving within their families and communities.
MODS is a union of over 100 member organisations dedicated to the protection and promotion of child rights in Serbia. Our mission is to ensure the rights, improve the position, and enhance the quality of life of all children. We advocate for a truly inclusive society where every child grows up happily and safely, protected from discrimination, and has equal access to high-quality education, healthcare, and social services. Our commitment is particularly focused on achieving an environment where children with disabilities can avoid institutionalisation and remain with their families.
To translate this vision into concrete action, MODS established the Social Laboratory (Društvena laboratorija), an incubator for services aimed at children and families. This unique program provides tailored support to associations and social service providers across Serbia. The goal is to develop and launch new services specifically designed to support the family life of children with developmental difficulties, thereby preventing their placement in institutions. The laboratory offers state-of-the-art knowledge on entrepreneurship, business model testing, individual expert support, and connection to potential investors.
The Social Laboratory has been implemented as part of the EU Interreg Danube Transnational Programme project, "D-Care Labs," which involved 10 European countries. This provided our members with professional support from experienced European innovation and incubation organisations, allowing for cross-regional learning. We also facilitated networking with service providers from nine Danube region countries (including Germany, Austria, Hungary, and others) to share best practices and ensure the developed solutions were robust and sustainable.
Looking forward, MODS will continue to advocate for the systemic decentralisation of social services, ensuring that every family with a child with disabilities has access to local, high-quality, community-based support. We aim to scale up successful, family-oriented services developed in the Laboratory, contributing to a care reform that prioritises the right of every child to grow up in a nurturing family environment.
For further information, please contact Mirjana Dzuverovic, Programme Coordinator at MODS or visit their website.
