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Information for the people with disabilities in Croatia is hard to find online. An overview of some city guides, blog impressions and useful numbers.
- How many people with disabilities are there in Croatia?
- Who advocates for the disabled in Croatia?
- The best wheelchair accessible beaches in Croatia
- A guide to Zagreb for disabled visitors, including maps of user-friendly institutions
- Split for the disabled
- How easy it is to get around Dubrovnik as a disabled tourist?
- Visiting Zadar with disabilities
- Disabled resources in Pula
- Disabled facilities in Rijeka
People with disabilities in Croatia – How Many Are There?
According to the Croatian Public Health Institute, there are more than half a million (11.9%) of people with registered disabilities in Croatia. These are broken down into the following sections:
150.000 (30%) are people with movability issues
130.000 (25%) mental illness
120,000 (23%) other organs
93,000 (18.2%) nerve system damage
25,000 (4.8%) intellectual disability
23,000 (4.4%) voice communication disability
17,000 (3.4%) sight disability
13.000 (2.6%) hearing disability
150.000 (30%) multiple disabilities
Who advocates for people with disabilities in Croatia?
There are a number of institutions dealing with disabled affairs in Croatia. Here are the most useful contacts:
- Ombudswoman for Persons with Disabilities
- Croatian Federation of Associations of People with Disabilities
- Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Associations
- Zvončići – Association of Children with Developmental Issues
- Autism Association
- Croatian Cerebral Palsy Association
- Croatian Blind Union
- Association for Promotion of Inclusion
- Dodir, the association of Deaf and Blind Persons
- Croatian Alliance of Muscular Dystrophy
- The Croatian Deaf Association
- Croatian Association of Societies of Persons with Intellectual disabilities
- The Croatian Community of Down Syndrome
- Croatian Paraplegic and Tetraplegic Association
The best wheelchair accessible beaches in Croatia
There is sadly little information currently available. But perhaps the blogging experiences of disabled travellers do the best job at explaining the situation. Here is a great one, even though it is from 2007.
However, more efforts have been made in recent years to improve beach access for people with disabilities in Croatia. You can find the 7 recommended beaches for the less mobile here.
A guide to Zagreb for visitors with disabilities, including maps of user-friendly institutions.
The most comprehensive guide of information about visitors with disabilities to Zagreb was published in early 2017, by Total Zagreb.
In addition to using the city as a traveller with a disability, there are several Google Maps. These maps show, for instance, the institutions, museums etc., that are accessible for the less mobile traveller. There is also information about public transport help. Learn more about Zagreb for persons with disabilities.
Split for people with disabilities
A holiday guide for a guest with disabilities in the Dalmatian capital.
You might also want to read another interesting article on the topic: Travelling in a wheelchair in Split?
Another really great piece was written by a Split expat resident after she was visited by her father who uses a wheelchair: Wheelchair travel in Split, Trogir, Krka, Brač, Salona and Croatian Ferries
How easy it is to get around Dubrovnik as a tourist with a disability?
To find out more about how you might enjoy the Pearl of the Adriatic, take a look at what is possible with reduced mobility in Dubrovnik.
Visitors with disabilities in Zadar
Similarly, here’s a guide to Zadar for the people with disabilities.
Resources in Pula for person with disabilities
What to see and how to get around in Pula.
Facilities in Rijeka to help people with disabilities
Getting around Rijeka as a traveller with disabilities.
Finally, to get the latest news on issues related to the people with disabilities in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN page.
If you have any more links or information to help add to this page as a resource, we would love to hear from you. Contact [email protected] Subject Disabled in Croatia.
