Tsipras: No society in which people with disabilities do not participate equally can be considered fair

Alexis Tsipras posted on his personal Facebook account on the occasion of today, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, with the message: To implement the slogan of the disability movement: “Nothing for us without us”

In particular, as Mr. Tsipras states:

December 3rd, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, strongly reminds us of our obligation to create an inclusive, inclusive and inclusive society for our disabled fellow citizens.

We need to work side by side to bridge the gaps and fight inequalities. This day should be just one of the 365 days of the year with actions to remove any obstacle.

The pandemic affects the Greek people as a whole, but our disabled fellow citizens were on the sidelines of the measures to deal with the pandemic, even though they are part of the high risk group. The measures taken were determined on the basis of regularity. The issues of oppression and social marginalization experienced by people with disabilities, chronic patients and their families have led to greater discrimination.

With our positions on the rights of the disabled we try to remove the institutionalized perceptions and practices of society. With our proposals we intend to change the daily life of the disabled person, to secure his future, to review the way of certification and repair of the disability, to implement the slogan of the disability movement “nothing for us without us”.

We support policies such as personal assistant or caregiver, increasing the cost of benefits, special support for pregnant women with disabilities and new mothers, the disability passport linked to his / her electronic file, free parallel support for students with disabilities in an inclusive education for everyone.

We need to support people with disabilities to produce and enjoy cultural products, to be able to play sports, to travel, to take part in joint programs with non-disabled people. And at the same time to ensure universal accessibility to the natural, structured and digital environment and to reform the way of certification of disability, as a continuation and extension of the reform of the electronic file of 2018.

Independent living, with the proliferation of Supported and Autonomous Shelters, the participation of people with disabilities in all decision-making bodies and the emphasis on creating a culture of equality among the population, are integral elements of a holistic policy on the rights of people with disabilities.

No society in which people with disabilities participate equally can be considered just.