One of our main demands for updated actions in the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an EU-wide law on the equal access to assistive technology.
Why?
Currently, depending on the country they live in, persons with disabilities have different level of access to assistive technologies. Each EU country has a different national certification schemes, which in some cases prevents people from getting the most suitable piece of assistive technology.
For example:
- A blind person in France must pay 400 euros for the same screen reader software that a Spanish blind person can get for free through the Spanish blind organisation.
- Someone with cerebral palsy is trying to get a device for alternative communication to support their disability needs. The device is neither available nor certified as assistive technology in their country, so it is not refundable.
- A Hard-of-hearing person whose insurance scheme offers a 9000 euros hearing aid but needs a higher quality one that costs 13000 euros, so they offer to pay the difference. The insurance does not allow this: it is the 9000 euros solution or nothing.
Disparate laws, support, and market forces lead many people to forgo assistive devices that suit them, either because they are unavailable in their country, too costly, or not reimbursed.
How to fix it?
The European Commission should propose a law that guarantees assistive devices are more available and more affordable in the European Union.
This will be in line with its competencies on competition and the EU single market.
The law should:
- Set up a mechanism for mutual recognition of assistive devices. If assistive technology is recognised as such in an EU country, it should be recognised in all.
- Propose measures for Member States to make assistive technology affordable. This could include state support in buying assistive devices.
- Introduce provisions to make national processes to get assistive technology easier, more flexible and faster.
- Facilitate accessible information on available assistive technology.
- Establish independent centres at national level to support in the selection of assistive technology. These centres should meaningfully involve organisations of persons with disabilities.
- Encourage research on innovative assistive solutions.