EU launches European disability strategy

In November 2010, the European Commission adopted a strategy that seeks to improve the situation of the estimated 80 million citizens living with a disability in Europe today. The ‘EU Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe’ aims at removing the obstacles that prevent disabled people from participating fully in society on an equal basis with others.

“This strategy makes it clear that disability is for the EU a human rights issue and a matter of law,” says Silvio Grieco from the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Unit at DG Justice. “People living with rare diseases must know that the EU recognises their rights to have full access to healthcare, education, employment, goods and services, on an equal basis with others, and, within the limits of its competencies, will aim to promote those rights in all relevant EU policies and initiatives.”

“Rare disease patients who suffer from visible or invisible disabilities are obviously concerned by this strategy and welcome a stronger commitment by the EU in this area,” says Flaminia Macchia Director of European Public Affairs at EURORDIS. “The adoption of such a comprehensive strategy is a sign that the EU is taking this issue seriously and will give its full political weight. We are also pleased that it falls within the remit of the DG Justice because it signifies that the rights of disabled people are considered as fundamental human rights. Furthermore, the move from DG Employment to Justice means that the EU strategy will go beyond employment issues and will encompass a much broader spectrum of actions to ensure disabled people are included and participate in all aspects of society.”

Specifically, the strategy aims to bring down barriers in areas such as accessibility, employment, health, education and social exclusion. The EU will support policies that improve disabled people’s accessibility to the built environment, to services and to the latest technology, namely the Internet. For example, only 5% of public websites fully comply with web accessibility standards.

Another important area is education. The EC has declared its support for the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream education, as well as lifelong learning and training opportunities for disabled adults.

Bettering employment opportunities and ensuring disabled people are not socially excluded and do not fall in the poverty trap, are other important aspects the EU will try to address.

“People with rare diseases will benefit from all the actions that the EU will take. Of course of most relevance will be the actions in the field of health, such as the support for policy developments in the Member States to improve access to healthcare,’ says Silvio Grieco.

Indeed, the strategy states that, ‘”people with disabilities may have limited access to health services, including routine medical treatments, leading to health inequalities unrelated to their disabilities”. It prescribes supporting national measures to deliver accessible, non-discriminatory health services and facilities; promote awareness of disabilities in medical schools and in curricula for healthcare professionals; provide adequate rehabilitation and mental health services.

In addition, the Commission is looking to carry out specific actions at the European level. For example, it wants to make sure that disability cards and parking permits can be used throughout the whole EU, and not just in individual member states.

“Efforts are being made in the right direction and we consider the language used to be the right one,” says Flaminia Macchia. “In particular, it is good to hear the overall aim is to empower people to give them access to their rights. Something EURORDIS and other patient organisations have been fighting for throughout the years.”

The EU Disability Strategy was presented at the Rare Disease Day 2011 European Symposium in Brussels, which focused on health inequalities. “The timing is good for the rare disease community. The new disability strategy fits in perfectly with other EU initiatives such as the EU Cross Border Health Care Directive and the EU Solidarity in Health Initiative,” argues Flaminia Macchia. “All these programmes are inter-linked because they tackle different aspects of the same problem. One of the conclusions of the symposium was that European Reference Networks of rare disease experts, which are included in the Cross Border Directive, would help reduce health inequalities, therefore alleviating the consequences of disabilities.”

Read more:
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Commission Communication on equality of opportunity for people with disabilities (1996)
EU Directive on equal treatment in employment and occupation (2000)
European Disability Forum (Year of Disabled People in 2003)
EU Disability Plan (2003-2010)
Cross Border Health Care Directive

This article was first published in the March 2011 issue of the EURORDIS newsletter

Author: Paloma Tejada
Photo credits: © European Union, 2011 & European disability forum