K. Hatzidakis: Ten initiatives for people with disabilities

The initiatives of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs for the protection of the rights of people with disabilities and the reduction of inequalities, were presented today by the Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis, during his speech at the International Conference of ESTIA, “10 Years SYD – 10 Steps” . As Mr. Hatzidakis underlined, “for the Government, the protection of the rights of people with disabilities is a strategic political choice. Our Ministry will be a help in this effort, the acceptance of diversity, the support in living and the strengthening of social inclusion. of persons with disabilities “.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs noted that the National Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been implemented for a year now, proving in the most emphatic way the importance of this issue for the Government. “We place a high priority on the design and development of services and programs in compliance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. All our initiatives and actions have as their core, the dimensions of coexistence, inclusion “The participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of public, social, economic and political activity. And our planning has a horizontal character. In other words, it runs through horizontal actions and services.”

Enumerating the initiatives and actions of the Ministry, Mr. Hatzidakis stated the following:

1. Yesterday we announced the final abolition of the obligation of disabled citizens with amputations and other irreversible diseases to pass committees again and again to certify their specific disability. It was something obvious that is finally happening! In addition, we announced the relocation of KEPA from the building on Piraeus Street to a new building at the Peace and Friendship Stadium with heating, air conditioning and parking spaces, upgrading the service in practice.

2. We have recently completed the Deinstitutionalization Strategy and its Action Plan. Our goal is the transformation of large institutions and the gradual integration of their beneficiaries into alternative forms of living, such as Supported Living Homes. We implement actions that will strengthen the perspective of deinstitutionalization for the most vulnerable children, such as children with disabilities and adolescents. In particular, for children 15-18 years old, small family-type structures will be developed, where they will be given the opportunity to acquire useful skills, to live within the social fabric while creating a framework for professional sponsorship.

3. We have recently instituted the personal assistant, a constant request of the disability movement that we satisfy. But also a very important service that will support the beneficiaries in the small or the big, daily, that is needed to satisfy the right to integration in the social becoming.

4. We are developing the disability card, another request of ESAMEA, which will make the daily life of the disabled easier and within 2022 will enter into force.

5. We also work with the European Commission and with the assistance of technical assistance provided by EASPD, we design and implement an early intervention program for children with disabilities and children with developmental disorders 0-6 years, where the focus will be on the family and of course the child himself.

6. We aim at the most effective supervision of child protection structures and ensure that the unique decision criteria in each structure are in the best interests of the children and to ensure that a family is found for them.

7. As today, November 19, is the International Day against Child Abuse, I note that with law 4837/2021, we took measures to substantially improve the framework of child protection and, among other things, a National Reporting and Monitoring System is recommended. incidents of child abuse.

8. We pay special attention to the dimension of accessibility both in relation to the environment and in relation to goods and services. Everyone has these rights!

9. The conclusion of the Working Group on Instructors for Mobility, Skills and Orientation for the Visually Impaired has recently been delivered, which will be a trigger for improving the training of trainers for the visually impaired.

10. Finally, we recently completed the procedures for the recruitment in the public sector of approximately 2,000 unemployed special categories subject to the protective provisions of Law 2643/1998, including persons with disabilities and their relatives.

Concluding, Mr. Hatzidakis stressed that “we will do everything in our power to make the lives of people with disabilities better. And you have my personal commitment! Because it is our duty, it is our choice, it is, above of all, what our hearts say! ”