Disability Inclusion Policies in Practice: How local social actors perceive support for disabled people in Maramureș County

This paper explores how local social actors in Maramureș County  including NGOs, associations, social enterprises, and protected units  perceive the current social policies aimed at supporting people with disabilities. The research investigates both the content of these policies (national, local, and sectoral) and the extent to which they are known, implemented, and considered effective by the organizations that work directly with beneficiaries. The study is based on a structured questionnaire administered to 31 organizations that provide services such as psychological support, rehabilitation, counselling, labour market mediation, vocational training, social integration, and legal assistance. The analysis examines three main dimensions: perceived effectiveness of social policies for people with disabilities; the level of awareness and information regarding these policies; and perceived barriers in implementing programmes, with a focus on financial, human, and administrative resources. Preliminary findings suggest that, although policy frameworks exist, they are often viewed as only partially effective, insufficiently adapted to real needs, and poorly supported by local authorities. Lack of funding and limited specialised staff, bureaucratic constraints, and weak inter-institutional cooperation are frequently mentioned by respondents as major barriers. The paper argues that meaningful disability inclusion at local level requires not only legislation, but also predictable resources, communication, and accountable governance.


Keywords: social policies, disability, NGOs; social inclusion, equal rights