Perspectives of AI in empowering persons with disabilities in Serbia

Dejan Masliković; Bojan Tomić; Natalija  Vulikić

doi:10.59954/stnv.666

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Published: Jun 3, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59954/stnv.666

Keywords:

artificial intelligence, persons with disabilities , assistive technologies, Serbia

Dejan Masliković

Institute of Social Sciences

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0425-0686

Bojan Tomić

Institute for Multidisciplinary Research

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5819-830X

Natalija Vulikić

Museum of Vojvodina

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4129-1946

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into assistive technologies represents a transformative advancement in enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities. This paper explores the multifaceted applications of AI, from aiding daily activities and providing personalized medical care, to improving social and emotional well-being. By examining AI-powered tools such as text readers, robotic assistants, and communication aids, the study highlights how these technologies facilitate independence and better healthcare outcomes. A survey from 2022 focusing on Serbia explores how many basic digital literate persons with disabilities use AI-based communication aids, and how many are aware that AI is following their everyday activities. The study reveals a possibility of future high usage rates and positive impacts on persons with disabilities in Serbia. About 24.32% of them already utilize AI-based communication tools, mostly audio and text processing tools. In this paper we underscore AI’s potential to foster inclusivity and independence, which is an important topic that should be emphasized in the society today.

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How to Cite

Masliković, D., Tomić, B., & Vulikić, N. . (2025). Perspectives of AI in empowering persons with disabilities in Serbia. Stanovnistvo, 63(1), 151–166. https://doi.org/10.59954/stnv.666

Issue

Vol. 63 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Articles

Published by the Institute of Social Sciences - Center for Demographic Research

Author Biographies

Dejan Masliković, Institute of Social Sciences

2022- ISS, Centre for Sociological and Anthropological Research

2021 - 2022 Head of the Group for the inspection in the domain of culture • Ministry of Culture Establishing inspection in the field of culture, production of the legal documents for the functioning of the inspection, defining checklists, work processes and plan production.
2016–2020 Minister Assistant of culture. Establishing the Department for Digitization of Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Art (two departments, 8 employees, 26 institutions), production of the legal frame for regulating processes of digitization, strategic planning of the development of IS in the cultural field (museums, libraries, archives, institutes for the preservation of monuments, nonprofit sector and IT sector), planning of the budget and controlling the effects of budget expenses, planning, accomplishing and presentation of strategic-national projects, training of employees, infrastructural development and coordination with other state departments.
Member of the delegation of Serbia in official attendance to China, Finland, Switzerland, Forums in Davos, Greece, Russian Federation etc.
2011–2016 Assistant Director of The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Organization of digitization of the archival structure of SASA, promotion of SASA's work, maintenance of complex IC network, (3 departments, 15 employees), planning of the budget and controlling the effects of budget expenses, planning, accomplishing and presentation of strategic-national projects.
2007–2011 Cabinet of the president of SASA, PR • Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
First PR manager in the history. Defining strategy and planning public relations and promoting the work of SASA, implementing new, modern communication mechanisms, presentation and promotion, employee training, creation of internet presentation.
2005–2007 Chief of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Culture • Ministry of Culture and Media
Organizing of the Cabinet's work domain, coordination of the departments within the ministry, strategic planning. Protocol
2004–2005 Adviser for PR and regional cooperation in the Cabinet • Ministry of Culture
Defining visual identity, promotion of the Ministry's work and culture overall, positioning the Ministry in the department of public administration, region and international community.
2002–2004 Government Agency for the Cultural development. Strategic planning, establishing the systems for employee training, improving work of cultural institutions, and establishing of management in culture, planning, accomplishing and presentation of strategic-national projects

Bojan Tomić, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research

Research Associate

Natalija Vulikić, Museum of Vojvodina

She completed the “Svetozar Marković” Gymnasium
(2000), Vocational Business School, the Department
of Information Technology in Novi Sad (2001–2003)
and “Union – Nikola Tesla” University, Faculty of
Management, Department for Information Technology Management (2017–2021). She worked as a
teacher of information technology in “Đura Jakšić”
Elementary School in Čurug (2005). From 2006 she
had served as an apprentice and from 2007 she has
been employed at the Museum of Vojvodina at an
IT technician post. The title of IT Technician she
acquired in 2007 submitting the work: “The creation of the electronic database at the
Museum of Vojvodina”. From early 2007 she has been working on projects dealing with the
digitization of cultural heritage at the Museum of Vojvodina.
She is one of the authors of the JIS information system, as well as of the “Zimus” software
and “Timus” application. She participated in the development of the following platforms:
Cultural Heritage Search Browser of the Republic of Serbia, E-Museum and E-Exhibition,
as well as of the E-Museum-Know-It-All application and The Golden Helmet interactive
comic book.
In 2013 and 2014, she set up a digitization team of the Museum of Vojvodina, which she
trained to work in JIS across museums and museum collections under the jurisdiction
of the Museum of Vojvodina. At the same time, she worked on the development of the
entire information system of the Museum of Vojvodina, and from 2012 has been working
as a database administrator. In the period from 2017 to 2021, she was engaged in the
project of implementation of the JIS in museums and other institutions for protection of
movable cultural heritage as well as in the accompanying workshops aimed at the training
of museum and other professionals to work in it throughout the Republic of Serbia and
the Republika Srpska (89 locations). She was a member of commissions on drafting the
Rulebook on Detailed Conditions for Digitization of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of
Serbia, the Guidelines for Digitization of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Serbia and the
Procedures with Examples for Issuing Acts on Determination of the Attributes of Cultural
Property for Museum Objects.
During 2015, she worked on a new “Timus” application, creating preconditions for the
set-up of the new application for browsing digitized depository on touch screens of the
Museum of Vojvodina. She worked on the implementation of the modified JIS software
19
for registering of the immovable cultural property, commenced in 2014 at the Institute for
Protection of Cultural Monuments of Novi Sad.
She held a larger number of lectures on the topic of digitization in the service of protection
of immovable/movable cultural property (Digitization Has Arrived – to the MUSEUMS:
Presentation of Timus, Seminar on Digitization of Cultural Heritage at the Museum of
Vojvodina, Seminar on Digitization of Immovable Cultural Property at the Institute for the
Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia etc).
She is a team leader and an associate of numerous projects tasked with digitization of
cultural property as well as its visibility and accessibility (Digitization Has Arrived – TO
MUSEUMS: Digitization Has Arrived – TO MUSEUMS, Cultural Treasure of Vojvodina in
Fairs; Novi Sad Cultural Treasure in Fairs; Digitization of Documentation of the Institute
for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Novi Sad; Digitization of Documentation of
the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of The City of Novi Sad – Linking
the Database to the Internet Presentation etc). In addition, she undertakes engagements as
a project manager in the field of culture.
She is a permanent member of the Commission for Professional Supervision, set up by the
Parent Institution of the Museum of Vojvodina. She is a member of the Commission for
Information and Documentation within the Institute for Standardization of Serbia.

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