1. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING OF FAIRNESS IN TERMS OF EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Peter Lazarov National Association of Resource Teachers- Bulgaria

2. How did NART originate? NART originated as an informal Facebook group of teachers and professionals working with children with special needs throughout Bulgarian NART members came together in 2011 against changes prepared in school legislation planning to erase the activities of resource teachers as a guarantor of equal access to education All this happened when these more than 1,200 resource teachers throughout the country supported the training of 14,000 students with special needs in the schools of general education and kindergartens.

3. THE CAUSE WAS THIS FAIR? WE ALL SAID “NO” AND STARTED TO FIGHT!

4. Round tables Within a few months NART organized public discussions almost in the whole country inviting parents of children, teachers and public figures

5. NART and NGOs NART was made officially as a member of the National network for children, which is the largest network of more than 120 NGOs in Bulgarian working with and for children. NART enrolled in a series of parent organization initiatives and also became a member of the Management Board of the Fund for treatment of children on the autism spectrum.

6. NART is Protest NART has organized protest in all cities of the country presenting a special online platform “NART is Protest”.

7. Effective protests

8. NART and a national subscription NART has gathered 33,000 signatures in its defense for 7 days

9. NART and the National Assembly The massive campaigns of NART were followed by significant media coverage and call for negotiations in the National Assembly.

10. NART and European volunteers NART has been granted accreditation under the European voluntary service programme and several volunteers from different European countries have already taken part in support of the NART initiatives

11. NART Academy NART is planning to realize its Academy for the education of teachers and parents to stimulate the deepening of change in Bulgarian schools toward fuller inclusion of all children regardless of all differences. NART has already implemented a series of trainings in different towns of the country. More than 120 teachers got together during the latest training where Elizabeth Harris from England was invited to be a lecturer.

12. Results All NART initiatives in community organizing made success exceeding the expectations. NART has been elected a member of the Public Council at the Ministry of Education and Science. Resource centers will expand their functions towards inclusive education in Bulgarian schools NART has developed as the main NGOs in the field of education, which claims to influence political processes in this area.

13. NART has a new Board of Directors 2015-2020

14. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! WWW.NARUBG.ORG