In her speech at the closing event, Secretary General of NSIOS Mag. Mojca Vaupotič presented the work carried out on the Nationwide Awareness Campaign on the Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities project. We are publishing the full speech as a report on the project’s activities.
Allow me today, with great pride, to speak about a project that connects us, inspires us, and opens the door to a more inclusive society—the Nationwide Awareness Campaign on the Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities.
The project began in 2016, when the National Council of Disability Organizations of Slovenia was first involved in the pilot project European Disability Card, which has since grown into much more.
After the conclusion of the European Disability Card project, when we developed this project at the National Council, we set a clear goal: to encourage reflection, create a space for dialogue, and, above all, give a voice to people whose everyday lives are no less rich, no less valuable, and no less human than anyone else’s.
Through various activities, we aimed to highlight the importance of equal opportunities, accessibility, and respect for diversity—but above all, we wanted to give a voice to those whom society too often overlooks.
The central thread of the project is the photographic exhibition, which we titled A Life No Different. Renowned photographer Primož Lavre invited 25 individuals in front of his lens. Among them are people with various types and forms of disabilities, all of whom are successful in their work, sports, and hobbies. The photo sessions took place in environments familiar to the participants, where they live and engage in their activities. The photographs together form a cohesive whole, with each image hiding a unique story. The photographs tell a story that goes beyond words. They depict the lives of people with disabilities, not as something different, but as lives full of hope, creativity, joy, and also challenges—truly, a life no different. The exhibition has been displayed in public institutions, large shopping centers, intercity buses, and on billboards throughout Slovenia. Special emphasis was also placed on collaboration with local communities, where numerous exhibition openings brought together people of different abilities, demonstrating that together we can create a space where everyone feels accepted and valued.
All these stories and photographs were also the central focus of a media campaign based on a comprehensive communication strategy, utilizing multiple communication tools. We prepared 142 different posts for print and digital media, 68 paid advertisements, 10 podcasts, participated in various radio and TV programs, and produced and aired three different television commercials. The public was regularly updated about events through social media and the NSIOS Newsletter. All of this aimed to break stereotypes and strengthen awareness that social inclusion is a fundamental human right—not a privilege.
A special emphasis in raising societal awareness was placed on children and adolescents. In kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools, we conducted 30 workshops titled “I Am a Person with a Disability”, in which a person with a disability shared their personal story. In this way, we aimed to bring children and adolescents closer to people with disabilities, showing that they are just like all of us—human beings.
We organized an art competition for young people. The competition received 109 excellent submissions, including 16 literary works, three short films, and 90 visual art pieces. A special committee, composed of NSIOS professionals and representatives from the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MDDSZ), selected the ten best works. Based on the submissions, an e-exhibition was created, and the works were also “exhibited” on the NSIOS website and social media channels. Some of the award-winning pieces can also be viewed in the lobby of the hall.
Under the guidance of two experienced educators—stand-up comedian, actress, and puppeteer Lucija Ćirović, and actor and director Boštjan Štorman free Mini School of Performance was held, where participants with disabilities explored performance, communication, theater, and creative processes in an engaging and creative way, while developing their personal theatrical expression. The participants became familiar with performing on camera and produced 17 promotional videos for the EU Disability Card. The first video was shown during the opening of the event and premiered at the General Assembly of the European Disability Forum held in May 2024 in Ljubljana. The film was met with great enthusiasm. What they learned will soon be revealed to you as well!
Together with the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, we conducted workshops for employees at administrative units. The workshops provided an opportunity to share information and experiences that will facilitate work with people with various types of disabilities. Participants became familiar with the Law on Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities and measures for ensuring equal opportunities, the training process for assistance dogs, and technical aids for overcoming communication barriers.
As part of the further development of the European Disability Card, we maintained and enhanced the website and mobile application. We also continued evaluating the accessibility of service providers. The project partner, the Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, reviewed and assessed more than 100 providers. We are proud that 84 new providers joined the EU Disability Card initiative, bringing the total number of participating providers in Slovenia to over 660 (668). Lidl Slovenia became the first retailer in the country to join. In addition to Lidl, other organizations that joined the initiative in 2024 and 2025 include: Istrabenz Turizem LifeClass Hotels & Spa, the Šaleška Valley Tourism Institute, Champion stores, Kalia Garden Centers, Celje Pivovarna Laško Handball Club, Ormega MM, Terme Snovik, Hotel Špik, and many others.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, esteemed guests, the success of this project is measured not only by the number of exhibition venues but also by the change in people’s hearts and minds. With every visitor who has already engaged with this project, and with those of you who will leave today feeling more open, more compassionate, and more ready to help create an inclusive society, we have taken a significant step forward together. And this step forward has not been limited to Slovenia; abroad, Slovenia is recognized as a best practice in the development of the European Disability Card.
The project is not an end goal, but an important step toward a more inclusive future. Thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and believed in the importance of this initiative.
Allow me to take this moment to extend special thanks to our partner UIRS; to the media campaign team Kreativna Baza; to the company WPM, which ensured the smooth operation of the European Disability Card website and mobile applications; to Primož Lavre, without whom the project would not have such an emotional depth; to Gledališče desni žepek—Lucija Ćirović and Boštjan Štorman—and all the performers who spent more than a year preparing what you will see today; to all 25 portrait subjects; to the project coordinator Ana Poročnik, who unfortunately cannot be with us today due to health reasons, but to whom we send our best wishes; to all employees at the Office for Cohesion, who occasionally made us pull our hair out but taught us so much; to all the young participants in the workshops and art competition, and their mentors; and last but not least, to my colleague Gašper, who dedicated all his energy, knowledge, and creativity to this project.
Let this be an encouragement to continue—not just with words, but with actions. We will strive, together with the state, to secure European funding that will connect the various ongoing projects, because only together are we stronger and more inclusive! Therefore, esteemed Mr. President Dr. Robert Golob… you can count on us!
Let us be guided by this thought: a society without exclusion is a society of the future. Thank you!
Photo: Primož Lavre
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