The Youth with Disabilities Forum, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia, organized a two-day training titled “Assessment of Work Ability in Line with the Social Model of Disability”, intended for members of the Work Ability Assessment Commission from the City of Belgrade.

The training took place on September 25 and 26 in Belgrade, bringing together professionals from the National Employment Service, the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, the Institute of Occupational Medicine, and psychologists. During the sessions, participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences from the work ability assessment process, discuss practical challenges, and explore possibilities for improving the existing system.

Since the adoption of the Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities (2009), the Commission for Work Ability Assessment has been tasked with determining, based on medical, social, and other criteria, the capabilities and potential of persons with disabilities to enter the labor market and perform specific jobs—either independently or with support. This assessment forms the basis for exercising rights to professional rehabilitation, employment under special conditions, and other entitlements within the social protection and insurance systems.

Given that no additional training has been organized for Commission members since the law was enacted, this training holds particular importance as a step toward establishing a fairer and more inclusive disability assessment system in Serbia. By applying the social model of disability, the focus shifts from medical limitations to understanding environmental barriers that affect an individual’s ability to work. This enables a more comprehensive assessment that considers the real needs and potential of persons with disabilities, thereby supporting their more active inclusion in society and the labor market.

The training is part of the project “Road to a Reformed Disability Assessment System,” implemented by the Youth with Disabilities Forum with support from UNDP Serbia. The project aims to contribute to the development of a roadmap for reforming the disability assessment system in Serbia by gathering input from relevant stakeholders and strengthening the capacity of professionals to apply the social model of disability.

This activity is carried out within the broader project “Advancing Equality, Rights, and Inclusive Actions,” implemented by UNDP in cooperation with UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Serbia, with financial support from the Global Disability Fund.