Disability Assessment Reform Faces Criticism Nine Months After Implementation

Slovakia's disability assessment reform, which has been in operation for nine months, is facing significant criticism from practitioners working directly with disabled individuals. Critics report that children with severe medical diagnoses are being declared healthy on paper, while blind people are being offered assistive devices that are completely unsuitable for their needs. The reform has fundamentally changed how disability benefits and support services are determined in Slovakia. Healthcare professionals and social workers who deal with disabled clients daily say the new system is producing inappropriate assessments that fail to reflect the real needs of vulnerable populations, potentially leaving many without adequate support or proper medical equipment.