''We demand rights, and not limitations,'' stated parents of children with impairments who gathered to stage an all-national protest in front of the Bulgarian Council of Ministers.

''We just want a respectable life for children and people with disabilities, and for their families, '' people protesting in Sofia added.

They demanded an adequate state involvement and support for families who are striving to raise their impaired children, local media reported.

Parents put red and blue hearts across heir chests that said ''See the person, not the disability'' and demanded urgent legislative amendments. Impaired people and their relatives insisted on a reform both in the health and in the financial sector so that their needs be addressed adequately.

Currently, no institution has expressed willingness to meet representatives of the protesters.

Among the main demands listed were improved access to physical, psychological and social rehabilitation, adequate financing of the medical procedures, closing of poorly working state agencies and creating of a new working mechanism, specialized individual assistance and maintenance in the education of the impaired children in educational institutions.

Parents also insisted for a unified system to be created that would ensure that disabled children can still reach their full potential.

The protest was organized following the World Autism Awareness Day marked on April 2 and few days prior to the World Health Day on April 7.