Cerebral Palsy Association of Slovenia

The Cerebral Palsy Association of Slovenia (Slovene: Sonček – Zveza društev za cerebralno paralizo Slovenije, commonly Zveza Sonček) is a national umbrella organization that unites regional and specialized societies for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in Slovenia. It was founded in 1983 in Kranj on the initiative of physicians Tatjana Dolenc Veličković and Milivoj Veličković, with the Gorenjsko and Mariborsko cerebral palsy societies as founding members. The association's early leadership included Adolf Mrak as first president and Taras Poljanec as vice-president. Over the following decades, 16 additional regional and specialized societies joined the umbrella. The association's headquarters moved from Kranj to Maribor in 1985 and then to Ljubljana in 1987, where it remains based. Its activities span rehabilitation, social care, housing, employment, publishing, cultural events, and international cooperation. It operates a network of Sonček Centres (Centri Sonček) across Slovenia, beginning with the Ljubljana centre on Vojkova in 1989, followed by centres in Slovenj Gradec, Celje, Maribor, Ptuj, Ljubljana (Rožanska), Murska Sobota, Koper, Novo Mesto, and Krško. The association also runs residential groups for adults with disabilities, starting with the first group in Kranj in 1991. A core service is obnovitvena rehabilitacija (restorative rehabilitation), delivered through the Elerji therapeutic-recreational centre near Ankaran (officially opened in 1993) and the Sonček Vrtiče holiday centre in Zgornja Kungota (developed from 2001). These programmes serve children and adults with cerebral palsy, often under contract with the national health insurance institute. The association also organizes holidays, volunteer programmes, and supported transition projects such as "Gremo mi na svoje" (Let's Go Independent) to help people move from institutional care to community living. Internationally, the association was admitted to the International Cerebral Palsy Society (ICPS) in 1990 and became a member of the European Association of Service Providers for Disabled (EASPD) in 2003. It participates in European projects such as Voice4All (2026–2027), focusing on inclusive education, employment, and independent living. The association publishes materials for members and supporters, including the magazine PET (from 1988) and the internal newsletter Sončnik (formerly Ali ste že slišali?). It has also produced handbooks and children's books, such as Svetlana Makarovič's "Veveriček posebne sorte" (1996). As a non-profit umbrella organization, the association does not have publicly listed shares or a commercial parent company. Its work is funded through public contracts, donations, membership, and project grants. It remains active, with programmes scheduled into 2026 and 2027, including rehabilitation sessions, volunteer recruitment, and European advocacy projects.

The Cerebral Palsy Association of Slovenia (Zveza Sonček) was founded in 1983 in Kranj on the initiative of physicians Tatjana Dolenc Veličković and Milivoj Veličković. It was established by the Gorenjsko društvo za cerebralno paralizo (founded 1976) and the Mariborsko društvo za cerebralno paralizo (founded 1982). Adolf Mrak became the first president, with Taras Poljanec as vice-president. In 1985 the headquarters moved from Kranj to Maribor, and Taras Poljanec was elected president with Herman Čater as vice-president. In 1987 the headquarters moved to Ljubljana, and Zora Tomič was elected president, with Roman Hriberšek as vice-president and Angelca Žiberna as secretary. Zora Tomič was re-elected in 1989 and 1991. In 2001 Franc Aco Prosnik became president, and in 2005 Iztok Suhadolnik was elected president. Over the years, 16 additional regional and specialized societies joined the umbrella, including Ljubljansko (1977), Dolenjsko (1983), Celjsko (1984), Koroško (1986), Pomursko (1988), Obalno (1988), Ponikve (1991), Zgornjegorenjsko (2000), and Zasavsko (2004). The association developed a network of Sonček Centres for social programmes. The first was the Ljubljana centre on Vojkova (1989), followed by centres in Slovenj Gradec (1994), Celje (1995), Maribor (1998), Ptuj (1999), Ljubljana Rožanska (2000), Murska Sobota (2001), Koper (2002), Novo Mesto (2004), and Krško (2011). Residential groups for adults with disabilities began with the first group in Kranj in 1991, followed by another in Kranj the next year, communities in Ljubljana and Maribor in 1993, a second in Ljubljana in 1996, Štore in 2000, Dravograd in 2003, and Koper in 2004. In 1993 the association officially opened the Rekreacijsko terapevtski center Elerji above Ankaran, where it began therapeutic colonies for children and restorative rehabilitation for adults with cerebral palsy under contract with the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (Zavod za zdravstveno zavarovanje Slovenije). In 2001 it began developing the Sonček Vrtiče holiday centre on a farm in Zgornja Kungota, where it had already organized the first holidays for children and adults with cerebral palsy a year earlier. Other milestones include the start of "Sončkovi prevozi" (Sonček transports) for disabled children in 1990, which changed the concept of institutions for education and training of children with disabilities. In 1989 the association founded two companies for employing disabled people: Sonce d.o.o. in Ljubljana and Sončna pot d.o.o. in Maribor and Ljubljana, as well as the first Center Sonček. In 1994 Marija Božič began implementing one of the association's most recognized projects, aimed at preparing primary school pupils to accept children with special needs in regular schools; hundreds of schools and thousands of pupils were involved. Svetlana Makarovič wrote the fairy tale "Veveriček posebne sorte" specifically for this project. In 1995 the association organized the first FESTINVAL of theatre groups of disabled people in Hrvati; the festival moved to Izola the next year and then to Ljubljana. Publishing activities began in 1988 with the magazine PET, preceded by the Obvestila Gorenjskega društva za cerebralno paralizo (1987). From 1995 it published the internal newsletter "Ali ste že slišali?" for members and supporters, renamed "Sončnik" in 2009. It published the booklet "Hemiplegičen otrok" in 1992, the first handbook "Vaš otrok ima cerebralno paralizo" in 1993, Svetlana Makarovič's children's fairy tale "Veveriček posebne sorte" in 1996, and "Akcija vključevanja" in 1997. Internationally, the association was admitted to the International Cerebral Palsy Society (ICPS) in 1990 and became a member of the European Association of Service Providers for Disabled (EASPD) in 2003. Honorary members include Tatjana Dolenc Veličković, Milan Kučan, Hans Schöbel, Hilda Šavrič Veličkov, and Zora Tomič. The association remains active, with programmes scheduled for 2026 and 2027, including rehabilitation, volunteer recruitment, and the European Voice4All project.

• 2026

  Participating in European project Voice4All (April 2026 – September 2027).

• 2009

  Internal newsletter renamed from "Ali ste že slišali?" to "Sončnik".

• 2005

  Iztok Suhadolnik elected president.

• 2003

  Became member of EASPD.

• 2001

  Began developing Sonček Vrtiče holiday centre in Zgornja Kungota; Franc Aco Prosnik elected president.

• 1995

  Organized first FESTINVAL of theatre groups of disabled people in Hrvati.

• 1994

  Marija Božič began inclusion project for children with special needs in regular schools.

• 1993

  Officially opened Elerji therapeutic-recreational centre near Ankaran.

• 1991

  Established first residential group for adults with disabilities in Kranj.

• 1990

  Admitted to ICPS; began "Sončkovi prevozi" transport for disabled children.

• 1989

  Founded Sonce d.o.o. and Sončna pot d.o.o. for employing disabled people; opened first Center Sonček in Ljubljana (Vojkova).

• 1988

  Started publishing magazine PET.

• 1987

  Headquarters moved to Ljubljana; Zora Tomič elected president.

• 1985

  Headquarters moved to Maribor; Taras Poljanec elected president.

• 1983

  Founded in Kranj by Gorenjsko and Mariborsko cerebral palsy societies; Adolf Mrak first president.

National umbrella non-profit association providing comprehensive rehabilitation, social, and advocacy services for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in Slovenia.

• Restorative rehabilitation programmes

• Centri Sonček

• Residential groups

• Holiday programmes

• Publications

• Gremo mi na svoje

  Support for transition from institutional care to community living.
• Voice4All

  European project (2026–2027) on inclusive education, employment, and independent living.
• Inclusion project for children with special needs

  Started in 1994 by Marija Božič to prepare primary school pupils for accepting children with special needs.

1. 1Sonček - Zveza društev za cerebralno paralizo Slovenijesoncek.org
2. 2Wikidata: Cerebral Palsy Association of Sloveniawikidata.org
3. 3Zveza Sonček - Wikipedia (Slovenian)sl.wikipedia.org